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I
PROCEEDINGS AND ORDINANCES
OF THE
PRIVY COUNCIL OF ENGLAND.
VOLUME VI.
22 HENRY VI. MCCCCXLIIL
TO
39 HENRY VI. MCCCCLXI.
EDITED BY
Sir HARRIS NICOLAS,
Cmancellor and Knight Commander of the Order of
Saint Michael and Saint George.
vp PRINTED BY COMMAND
HIS MAJESTY KING WILLIAM IV.
IN PUR8UANCB OP AN ADDRESS OP
THB BOVSB OF COMMONS OF GttSAT BHITAIN ;
AJTB VXOSm TWI OlASCTiei* ov
TUB COMMISSIONERS ON THB PUBLIC RECOBDS
OF THB KINGDOM.
1837.
^ /«?^ %
<^^'-tc t'e-jyi' '.r^ :'jf}r-^e /^i f-^c
.-/
RECORD COMMISSION,
MoanJi 1831.
THIS BOOK
IS TO BE
PERPETUALLY PRESERVED
IN
THE LIBRARY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
C. P« CoOPER>
Jpril 1837. Sec. Cam, Pub. Rec,
A
COMMISSIONERS
ON
THE PUBLIC RECORDS OP THE KINGDOM,
APPOINTED BY
HIS MAJESTY'S COMMISSION
or THE
\2ih rf March 1831.
HIS ORACB THE ARCHBISHOP OF CAMTBRBUBY.
THS RIOHT HONOUBABLB LORD BROUGHAM axd VAUX.
THB RIGHT HONOURABLE THE SBCRBTART OF STATE FOR THE HOME
DEPARTMEMT.
THB RIGHT HONOURABLE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THS RIGHT HONOURABLE THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD CLERK REGISTER OF SCOTLAND.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF ABERDEEN, K.T.
THB RIGHT REVEREND THE LORD BISHOP OF LLANDAFF.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS ORENYILLS.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES WATKIN WILUAMS WYNN, M. P.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRT HOBHOUSE.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MR. BARON PARKE.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BOSANQUET.
SIB ROBERT HARRY INGLIS^ BART., M. P.
XOUI8 HAYES PETIT, ESQUIRE.
BEHRY BELLENDEN KER, ESQUIRE.
HENRY HALLAM, ESQUIRE.
JOHN ALLEN, ESQUIRE.
EDWARD PROTHBROB, ESQUIRE.
EDWARD VERNON UTTERSON, ESQUIRE.
WILLIAM BROUGHAM, ESQUIRE.
CHARLES PURTON COOPER, ESQUIRE. SECRETARY.
PREFACE.
It was stated in the Preface to the First Volume,
that this work would contain such Proceedings of
the King's Council from the time of King Kichard
the Second to the close of the reign of King Henry
the Sixth, as are preserved in the British Museum ;
and this volume, which is the last of that series, con-
sists of the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Privy
Council between the 26th of August, 22 Hen. VI.
1443, and the 28th of January, 39 Hen.VL 1460.
The General Register, or, as it was termed,
" Book of the Council," does not appear to have
been continued after the 13th Hen.VL 1435; and
from that time until the latter part of the reign of
King Henry the Eighth no regular record of its
Proceedings is preserved ; and all which can be done
is, therefore, to collect the few scattered papers
that are now extant.
Though by no means so numerous or im-*
portant as might be expected, many of the articles
in the following sheets are, nevertheless, of con-
voL. VI. a
u PREFACE.
siderable Historical value, and some of them tend
to illustrate points of Constitutional law. Of the
former as much will be said as may appear neces-
sary to bring the information they contain to the
notice of Historians, whilst advantage will be taken
of the latter, to submit some remarks on the
Office of King's Secretary or Secretary of State,
and of King's Chamberlain, about which little, it
may almost be said nothing, has hitherto been
written. Although the same observation cannot
be applied to the Great Seal and to the King's
other Seals, it is nevertheless presumed that the
facts which will be found respecting them, and the
observations which will be made on the responsi-
bility of the Lord Chancellor and Lord Privy Seal,
in reference to the King's grants, will fully justify
the digression on those subjects, inasmuch as many
of those facts escaped the attention of Lord Coke,
Selden, and Prynne, and are absolutely necessary
to render some of the Proceedings of the Council
properly understood.
22 Hen-Vl. The Only Proceedings of the Council in the
22nd of Henry the Sixth, 1443, of any interest,
are those which relate to the affairs of Brittany,
and to the Earl of Suffolk's appointment, as chief
of an embassy to negociate a peace with France.
Francis duke of Brittany succeeded his father
John the Sixth, on the 28th of August 1442, and
he soon after sent his brother Giles (who came to
England about ten years before, for the purpose of
PREFACE. iii
being brought up with Henry the Sixth*) and other 22 Hen.vi.
Ambassadors to this country, to renew the claim
of his ancestors to the Earldom of Richmond.^ On
the 26th of August 1443, at Henley on the
Heath, the King gave his answers to the pro-
positions submitted by the Breton Ambassadors.
After expressing his satisfaction at the arrival of
Giles of Brittany, he stated, in reply to the de-
mand that the Duke should have the Earldom of
Richmond on rendering homage for it by proxy,
that he had never before heard of the Duke's
pretensions ; but that, wishing to render justice to
every one, he would cause the records to be
examined, and if the claim was well founded he
would willingly receive his homage for the Earl-
dom, according to the laws and customs of
England. He thanked the Duke for offering to
use his good offices in promoting a peace between
this country and France, and reminded him, as
well as all other Catholic Princes, of the efforts
which had been made by his father and himself to
obtain that object. He assured him that he would
always be ready to listen to any pacific overtures ;
that he gladly accepted the Duke's mediation ;
and Henry added, that he intended to send his
Ambassadors to France, who would declare to him
the earnest desire which he felt to put an end to
1 Vide Proceedings of the Privy Council^ voLiv. pp.xlizy Ixxviii, 128,
151, 181; and/>0«fea, p. 16. Foedera, voL xL p. 48.
2 Vide Proceedings of the Privy Council, vol. i. pp. 6, 17, 37, 4S-45,
47, 49, 64, 91 .
a 2
iv PREFACE.
^ Hen.vi- the war, promising, in the event of peace, that the
Duke should be honorably included in the treaty.
To the Duke of Brittany's demand for restitu-
tion of seizures made by the English from the
Bretons, the King replied, that he had received
repeated complaints from his subjects of the aggres-
sions of the Bretons, about which he had often
written to the late Duke, as well as to himself, but
that he had not heard of any satisfaction having
been rendered for them ; and that though three
years before Commissioners were appointed on
both sides to settle these matters, nothing had
been done on the part of the Duke. Nevertheless,
Henry proposed that Commissioners should again
be appointed, and that proclamations should be
immediately issued in all the sear-ports of their
respective dominions, forbidding their subjects
respectively, to offer any molestation or injury to
those of the other party.*
Some weeks afterwards, the King informed
the Breton Ambassadors that he had caused all the
records to be carefully examined respecting the
Earldom of Richmond, and that it clearly ap-
peared that it had been held by King Edward
the Third, who bestowed it upon his son the
Duke of Lancaster, by whom it was enjoyed for
some time, and who, for certain considerations,
restored it to King Richard the Second ; that it
was assigned by that Monarch to Anne his Queen
pp. Uy^postea.
PREFACE. V
as part of her dowry, and that on her decease it 22 Hen.VL
reverted to the Crown, in the person of King
Henry the Fourth ; but that if, nevertheless, the
Duke of Brittany could shew a right title to the
Earldom, ftdl justice should be done to him. To
the Duke's proposal, that his brother Giles should
represent him in performing homage for that ter-
ritory, Henry replied that he was very desirous of
shewing the Duke every favour which was pro-
perly in his power, but that, according to the
most ancient laws and customs in England, who-
ever owed him hotnage must perform it in person ;
and that neither he nor his predecessors had ever
received it in any other manner, even from their
sons, their brothers, or the nearest of their lineage ;
and he repeated his promise that Brittany should
be included in any treaty of peace with France. ^
Another memoir on behalf of the Duke of
Brittany was submitted to the Council, towards
the close of the year, which stated that the King
of France had written to request that the Duke
vould be present when the Earl of Suffolk and
Henry's other Ambassadors arrived, to assist in
concluding a peace ; and he promised him that he
should be comprised in the treaty, and his rank
guaranteed in the same manner, as to other Lords
of his blood ; but the Duke said he had deferred
complying with the French Monarch's wishes until
he knew Henry's pleasure on the subject. The
» pp. 7-9, postecu
a 3
vi PREFACE.
22 Hen.vi. Duke of Brittany then represented, that, notwith-
standing the peace, the Duke of Somerset had
entered his dominions with numerous soldiers, and
had committed many and enormous cruelties, as
though Brittany were a conquered country, al-
though the English had been received as friends
and allies ; that they had pillaged and destroyed
the town of La GuercheS and had refused to quit
Brittany unless the Duke gave Somerset twenty
thousand crowns, of which sum ten thousand had
actually been paid, and bonds granted for the pay-
ment of the remainder before Christmas ; and the
Duke said he had consented to that agreement only
to prevent a continuance of such aggressions on his
people, hoping that when the King became aware
of the facts he would cause restitution to be made,
inasmuch as such aggressions were contrary to the
existing treaty.^
1 Vide Lobineau*s Histoire de Bretagne, tome i« p. 623.
^ pp. 11-13, postea, A letter, dated on the 2nd of December, from the
Council to the Duke of Brittany, which was sent by Garter King of
Arms, occurs among the preceding documents^ and has therefore been
printed with them (p, 13, postea) ^ but it is not certain that it belongs
to the same year ; and as the subject to which it relates is not noticed in
the other letters and proceedings, it is more likely to be a copy of a
letter written in December, 11 Hen. VI., 1433, when it was intended to
send Garter to the Duke of Brittany. Vide Proceedings of the Council,
voL iv. pp. 136, 146, 147.
The Council complained in that letter, in the strongest terms, of the
outrages which the Duke's people had committed on the King's English
and French subjects, both by land and sea, especially on those employed
in fishing ; that whenever they found a vessel with only a few persons on
board, they entered her, and either cruelly murdered the crew, threw them
overboard, or placed them in such close confinement (*' crueuses, horri-
PREFACE, vii
TTie Council took the Duke of Brittany's 22 Hen.vi.
Teinonstrance into consideration on the 12th of
December. In reply to his intimation that the
King of France wished him to be present during
the negociation for peace, they referred him to
his Majesty's former letter on the subject ; but
that letter, which was not written until the 17th of
the same month, contains little besides verbose
assurances that the Duke should be included in the
treaty with France/ His complaints against the
Duke of Somerset were sent to that nobleman,
*^ Ues, et esiroittes prisons ") that some died of the excessive hardships
to which they were exposed, whilst others offered such exorbitant ransoms
to escape from their torments that it was impossible to raise the money,
and that on failing to pay it, they were dragged through the streets and
public places, amidst the jeers of the populace, and then inhumanly put
to death ; that the holy sacraments had been denied to those who died,
and their bodies refused Christian burial ; that the survivors were so
heavily ironed that their limbs had mortified ; and, in short, that cruelties
had been perpetrated which Christians had not even met with from
Saracens. The Council expressed their opinion that the Duke's subjects
had consented to the peace for their own advantage only, and with the
view of deceiving otheis ; that the King did not suppose that he could
he aware of these excesses, because it would tend too greatly to his dis-
honor if he knew of them and did not provide a remedy ; that the
Council could not possibly submit to such conduct without dishonor to
thdr Sovereign and his realm, and offence to the Almighty, because the
blood of the victims cried to them unceasingly for vengeance. The
Dnke was therefore requested immediately to inform the Council, by the
bearer, whether those facts had been done with his knowledge and
assent ; and, if not, that he would with all haste take such measures for
preventing the repetition of them as would be satisfactory to God and
their Sovereign ; and he was desired to give his answer so speedily, as it
might appease the people of this country, or produce such arrangements
as God might suggest (pp. IS-I61 postea.)
^ 'p.20^ poHea.
a 4
viii PREFACE.
22 Hen-vi. with the expression of the King's serious displea-
sure; and he was commanded to repair all the
injuries which had been committed by his troops,
and forbidden, in the most positive manner, to
permit them to be repeated.^
In these communications with the Duke of
Brittany, it seems to have been the policy of the
Government to conciliate him as much as possible ;
and, with the intention of attaching him still
more closely to the interests of England, the
Council were extremely anxious to secure the
services of his brother Giles. Letters were
written by the King to that personage ; and Lord
Sudeley was sent to him with various offers to
induce him to comply with their wishes. He ac-
cordingly came to England, and soon after gave
a written reply to their propositions. To the in-
quiry as to what services he would render the
King, he said that it was not for him to choose,
but for his Majesty to command. Being asked
whether he would serve the King in peace and war,
he declared that he should be happy to serve him
in any manner, saving his own honor, provided a
suitable maintenance were granted to him, so that
it might not be necessary for him to seek one else-
where ; for if he once took up arms for the King
he should be precluded from obtaining support
from other Princes. He expressed much surprise
at its being proposed to him to swear to certain
^ ]^ 23, postea.
PREFACE. ix
strong obligations, because, he said, that having 22Hen.vi.
alwajs manifested the best intentions towards the
King, and having served him without pay, the more
Henry bestowed upon him the more obliged he
should consider himself; adding, that he desired
to serve him more in deeds than in words. He
said, that although the offers which had been made
to him were greater than his merits, they were
nevertheless insufficient to maintain his rank, with
regard either to the King's honor or his own, as
he should be compelled to relinquish all other
advantages ; but ' that, in submission to Henry's
pleasure, and to gratify his desire to see his Mar-
jesty, he had purposely come to England ; and he
concluded by entreating a speedy decision upon
these matters.^
The subject having been taken into considera-
tion by the Council, an annual pension of one
thousand marks was assigned to him ; and a gold
cup of the value of one hundred marks, filled with
one hundred pounds, was presented to him by the
King's express commands ; a silver cup, one hun-
dred crowns, and a piece of damask cloth being at
the same time given to one of the Duke of Brit-
' PP' ^Ih postea. For an account of the unhappy fate of Giles
of Brittany, who became the victim of his attachment to the interests
of England, see ** L'art de verifier les Dates," tome iii. p. 908 ; Mon-
strelet, ed. 1586, tome iii. p. 31^; and the Rolls of Parliament, vol. v.
p. 179. MoDstrelet states that Giles of Brittany had offended his brother
the Duke of Brittany and the King of France, by accepting the Order
of the Garter from Henry the Sixth ; but he is not included in the lists
of the Knights of that Order by Ashmole or Anstis.
X PREFACE.
22 Hen. VI. tanv's Ambassadors.^ As the claim to the Earldom
1443.
of Richmond does not appear to have been again
brought forward, the Duke was probably aware
that his pretensions would not be admitted.
1444. It has long been known, from an instrument
printed by Rymer, that William de la Pole, Earl of
Suffolk, one of the most eminent statesmen of the
time, either felt, or pretended to feel, great reluc-
tance in undertaking the management of the nego-
ciation for a peace with France, to which embassy
he was appointed on the 11th of February 1444^;
and that he obtained letters patent on the 20th of
that month, pardoning every error of judgment
which he might commit on the occasion.^ Histo-
rians have imputed Suffolk's conduct, not, as he
professed, to a sense of his own inability, but to
the fear of the Duke of Gloucester's resentment,
or more probably, to apprehensions of certain arti-
cles of a treaty concluded by Henry the Fifth and
confirmed by Parliament, which made it a high
offence in any man to conclude a peace with
Charles, except with the consent of the three
estates of both realms.* The Minutes of the
Council of the 1st of February, eleven days be-
fore Suffolk's appointment, contain, however, the
reasons which he himself assigned for his un-
willingness to be one of the Ambassadors to
1 pp. 1 6, 1 7, postea. 2 Foedera, voL xi. pp. 60, 63. ^ Ibid, p. 53.
4 Lingard's History of England, vol. v. p. 57. This provision was
declared null and void by Parliament in the 23rd Hen. VI. Rot. Pari.,
vol. V. pp. 102, 103.
PREFACE. xi
France. Addressing himself to the King, in a 22 Hen.vi.
Council held at Westminster, at which Gloucester
and nearly all the other members were present,
Suffolk reminded his Majesty that he had become
known to the French Princes, and other personages
of distinction, when he was a prisoner in France,
and that he had had many conversations with the
Duke of Orleans whilst the Duke was in his cus-
tody in England, which he thought rendered it
improper that he should be employed in the pro-
posed embassy, especially as the French themselves
had suggested his appointment to it He said that
these facts had exposed him to public animadver-
sion in London, since it was known that he was
selected for that mission ; that some Lords of great
influence and property had been employed on
similar negociations, who had performed their duty
with wisdom and prudence, but who had never-
theless been censured by the people, as well as in
Parliaments and elsewhere, " full heavily to their
" great charge and burthen in all ;" and that if this
were to happen to him it would be insupportable,
on account of the difference between their "estates"
and his own.
The Lord Chancellor, by the King's com-
mand, then acquainted Suffolk that it was his
Majesty's pleasure he should proceed on the em-
bassy; upon which he requested that, since such
was the King's orders, he might be associated
with " sad and circumspect men," and with such as
could and would " bear with him for the King's
xii PREFACE.
22 Hen. VI. u worship," SO that the French might perceive, that
though the embassy consisted only " of men of easy
" degree and few in number," yet that they pos-
sessed the necessary ability. He further desired, in
the event of the negociation not being successful,
" that therefore no charge be laid upon him, neither
" that he therefore run into any danger or heaviness
^* of the King, nor on any other behalf nor wise,
«* but that he may stand alway in the King's good
" conceit and grace." The Chancellor replied,
by the King's command and with the advice of
the Council, that in case the mission failed, no
charge should be laid by his Majesty, his heirs,
councillors, officers, or any of his people, upon
Suffolk, his heirs or executors, nor upon any
person going in the said embassy ; " neither that
" therefore he run into any danger or heaviness of
" him, nor on any other behalf nor wise, and will
" that in this behalf he should stand in his good
" conceit and grace ; and furthermore the King
" willed him and commanded such charge as he
" would lay upon him that he should receive it,
" take it, and execute it." Suffolk then thanked
the King, said he would obey his commands, and
desired letters patent to that effect, which were
accordingly granted.^
This document throws some light upon a
transaction which has hitherto been very mysterious.
It is evident that the people disapproved of Suf-
1 pp. 33-35, postea.
PREFACE. xiii
folk's being chosen to conduct the treaty, on ac- 22 Hen.VL
count of his supposed connection with the French
interests, and that he fully expected the obloquy
by which he was afterwards assailed for consenting
to do so. Dr. Lingard's conjecture* does not seem
well grounded, because Suffolk did not allude to the
Act of Parliament before mentioned ; and the Duke
of Gloucester appears not only to have approved
of his appointment, but to have joined with the
other members of the Council in pressing it upon
him. The most curious fact connected with the
affair relates, however, to Henry's marriage. It
does not appear from their Commission that the
Ambassadors were to negociate an alliance of that
nature, nor is it expressly adverted to either in
Suffolk's address to the Council, or in the
King's answers to his several requests. But there
can be little doubt that the "charge" which the
King specially commanded him to "receive, take,
" and execute," and which is obscurely alluded to
in the Chancellor's answers, referred to the marriage,
because in the letters patent which were issued to
Suffolk, the following words occur : " Volumus quod
" ob integerrimum illud et singulare nostrse mentis
*' desiderimn ad bonum pacis, personceque nostrce
" matrimonium^^^ &c., a fact which, as Rapin^ has
well observed, shews that the accusation subse*
quently brought against Suffolk, of having con-
1 p. X, anUa* ^ Foedera, voL zi. p. 53.
3 Ed. 1732, voL L p. 568.
xiv PREFACE.
22Hen.vi. tracted that alliance without sufficient authority,
was unfounded. Nor was it one of the crimes of
which he was impeached by the Commons, in 1450,
though he was then accused by them of having
" above his instructions and powers" promised to
the King of Sicily, the Queen's father, the deliver-
ance of the provinces of Maunce and Maine. ^
It is far from improbable that Suffolk was
really unwilling to undertake the mission to France,
on account of the suspicion which existed of his
bias towards the French interests ; that he foresaw
the King's marriage with Margaret of Anjou would
not be popular in this country ; and that he was
aware his connection with the alliance would in-
crease the clamour against him.
Although that affair was only indirectly alluded
to in the Privy Council, Suffolk nevertheless con-
trived to get it expressly mentioned in the patent,
thereby securing himself from danger for having
negociated it. The Council seem, therefore, to
have determined upon the measure, though the
whole obloquy was thrown upon the agent whom
they employed ; and Suffolk displayed sagacity and
prudence in endeavouring to cast the responsibility
upon those who had sanctioned, even if they had
not originally proposed the marriage. If it be
admitted that Suffolk did not act without authority,
it is reasonable, (in ignorance of his instructions,)
to infer that he had also the necessary powers for
» Rot Pari., vol. V. p. 178.
PREFACE. XV
accomplishing the object, upon the terms which 22Hen.vi.
were afterwards made the grounds of his impeach- ***'
ment His caution at the commencement of the
mission was strikingly displayed ; and it is unlikely
that he should have afterwards committed the im-
prudence, if not the treason, which has been
imputed to him.
A truce was concluded with France at Tours
on the 28th of May 1444, to subsist from the
1st of June in that year to the 1st of April 1446,
in .which, according to the promise of Henry's
ministers^, Brittany was comprised ; though, ac-
cording to the Historian of that province^, they
made a pretence to include the Duke, as a subject
of the English Crown, with the view of establishing
a right to the Duchy.^
In October 1444, Henry was contracted by 2SHen.vi.
proxy at Nancy to Margaret of Anjou, daughter of ^^^^
Rene titular King of Sicily and Jerusalem ; and Suf-
folk, who had been raised to a Marquisate on the
14th of September preceding, was his Sovereign's
representative on the occasion. Towards the end of
the year. Commissioners were sent into several
counties to borrow money for the expences of
conducting the Queen to England, and for her
coronation/ Suffolk escorted the royal bride to 1445.
this country in April in the following year. She
1 p. ▼, aniecL ^ Lobineau, tome L p. 62S.
3 PiBdera, toL xL p. 64.
^ See their Instructions in pp. S22-3259 poUea.
xvi PREFACE.
23Hen.vi. WES married to the King in person at Titchfield
on the 22nd of that month^, and was crowned at
Westminster on the 30th of May,
The Marquess of Suffolk, not content with the
protection which he had already received, induced
the Commons to petition the King, on the 4th of
June 1445, in his favor. After pointing out his
eminent services, particularly in concluding the
recent truce with France, in promoting the King's
^--- — - -..
1 It appears from the following curious letter from the King to the
Lord Chancellor, that the Queen was taken ill upon her arrival in
England :
" By the King.
" Right reverend fader in God^ right trusty and right wel-
" beloved * We grete you wel * and suppose that ye have wel in
^^ knowleche j how that oure moost dere and best beloved wyf the
^^ Quene is yet seke of the labour and indisposicon of the see ^
^^ by occasion of which the pokkes been broken out upon hir,
*^ for which cause we may not in oure own personne holde the
<^ feste of Saint Greorge at oure castel of Wyndesore * upon Saint
" Georgf day next comyng, Wherfore we wol J>* ye make owt
<^ our tres of comission * under oure greei seel in due forme yeving
" power by the same unto oure right trusty and entirely wel-
^^ beloved cousins the Duke of Excestre and Bukf j and eyther of
<^ thejmfi * to holde the sayd feste in oure behalve at \e day and
" place abovesaydj with othr lordes 1 knightf of the gartier
" such as we have comanded to be there ^ and that herinne be no
^^ defaulte as ouif greet trust is in you. Yeven under our signet
" at Southwyk 4 the xvj. day of Avril.
•* To the right reverend &der in God oure right trusty
" 1 right welbeloved tharchebissop of Canterbury *
" oure Chancettr of Englande."
Ex. Orig. in Turr. London. Thb letter is printed in the introduction to
Anstis' Register of the Order of the Garter.
PREFACE. xvii
marriage, and in conducting the Queen^ at his S3Heii.vr.
own expence, to England, they prayed the Lords to
beseech His Majesty to ** repute, accept, declare,
" and take" him to his grace ; and desired that
the declarations which he had made to the Lords
two days before, together with his labours and
conduct, might be enacted in that Parliament, " to
" his true acquittal, and discharge and honor of
" him in time to come." The Duke of Gloucester
and many other Lords then rose from their seats,
and supported the request of the Commons, to
which the King, through the Chancellor, granted
his most gracious assent ; and it was so enacted
accordingly.^ This proceeding, which is one of
the most solemn and complete ratifications by
Parliament of the conduct of a Minister upon
record, did not, however, protect him from im-
peachment a few years afterwards for the very
measures which the Legislature had thus formally
sanctioned and approved.
The earliest of the few records extant of 24.Hen.v1.
the Proceedings of the Council in the 24th of ^**^
Henry VL are some letters dated in March 1446,
respecting the conduct of a Friar of Coventry, of
the name of John Bredon, who had preached
against the right claimed by the Prior and Convent
of the Cathedral Church of St. Mary in that City,
that the bodies of those who died within its precincts
J Rot Pari. voL v. pp. 73, 74f.
VOL. VI. b
jl^y^ll PREiFACE*
^ Hen. VI. should be first brought to that Church with " ap-
" parel of wax," and then buried wherever the de-
ceased might have directed; and that the said
" apparel of wax " should become the property
of the Cathedral, Bredon asserted, on the con-
trary, that all offerings belonged to those who ad-
ministered the sacraments to the parishioners, and
that neither the Pope " nor all the world'' could
compel a man to offer any thing in the Cathedral
Churchy or prevent a free man from disposing by
his will of the lights which surrounded his corpse;
He therefore advised the people to bear the lights
to whatever Church they pleased, adding that there
was not so " bond " a city in England as Coventry
in that respect, or so covetous a place as the Priory
of Coventry, and that no usage could make a pre-
judicial custom lawful. It seems that he had also
attached bills to the Church doors, promising to
deliver the City from the thraldom of Pharoah.
As soon as the Council were apprised of his con-
duct, they adopted very summary measures against
him. He was commanded instantly to quit Co-
ventry, and to place himself at the disposition of his
Superior, who was directed to remove him from his
Convent to some other of the Order, forty or fifty
miles distant, and to forbid him from entering that
City again. A serjeant-at-arms was dispatched
to the Mayor of Coventry, ordering him to com-
pel the contumelious Friar to read a recantation,
which was forwarded by the same messenger, on
two festival days, from the pulpits of all the Churches
PREFACE. xix
there, on pain of imprisonment should he refuse, £4Hen.vi:
or say more or less than was set down for him.
In the letter to the Minister Provincial of the Friars
Minors of England on that occasion, it is said that
the King was bound to support the rights of the
Cathedral of Coventry, because " We be their Sove-
*^ reign Lord and Patron, and forasmuch as We
" would have all our subjects to live in rest and
*^ peace after Grod's law and ours, and nothing to
^ be shewed or preached unto them but that that
^ might sowne [tend] to good, and be to rest and
** weal of Our people."^
It having been determined that Henry should
proceed to France in the ensuing October, to
treat in person with Charles for a final peace be-
tween the two Countries, Commissioners were sent
into Suffolk, Norfolk, £ssex, and Herts in July, to
raise money for the King's expences, he being
then, as their instructions state, in his ^^ greatest
^ necessity."^
Fragments of the original Minutes of the
Council in the latter part of July 1446 are pre-
served ; but the only material facts shewn by them
are, that the citizens of London had remonstrated
against certain taxes and other grievances, among
which was the erection of several places wherein
people played " at the ball, cleche, and dice ;" that
the Council wished the convention between the
Kings of England and France to be held on the
1 pp. 40A5ypMte€u
^ pp. 46-5I9 postea ; Vide Foedera, voL xL pp. 1S9> 150^ 157.
b 2
XX PREFACE.
24 Hen. VI. liver between Maunt and Melant j that Eleanor
Cobham, the wife of the Duke of Gloucester, was
ordered to be conveyed to the Isle of Man, in
custody of Sir Thomas Stanley; that ships were
impressed for the King's voyage to France ; and
that the Earl of Ormond, who was accused of
treason by the Prior of Kilmaine in Ireland^ was
strictly prohibited from going above forty miles
from London, without the King's permission, ex-
cept on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, and he was
likewise directed to be ready to appear before the
Council whenever be should be summoned to do
so, which directions he swore to obey.^
25 Hen.vi. Upon the affairs of this country in the 25th of
1446. Henry VI. scarcely any information is afforded by
the few scanty notices of the Privy Council which
have been collected in this volume. Towards the
end of 1446, the public, or rather the inhabitants
of London, were deeply interested in two personal
combats, which are noticed by nearly all contem-
porary Chroniclers. Very minute particulars of
these affairs^ (which, though not important, are
nevertheless curious from shewing the consideration
which was then attached to such subjects) occur in
several documents now printed from the originals
in the British Museum.
1 Fabian, ed. 181 1, p. 618 ; Stow, p. S85 ; Chronicle of London, p. 134»
And pottecu.
3 pp. 50, 54, pasiea,
^ See the account of another duel in the Slst Hen. VI. p. 129, posiea.
PREFACE. xxi
An apprentice to an armourer of London, 25 Hen.vi.
having accused his master of treason, the parties
agreed to appeal to arms, under the authority of
the Constable and Earl Marshal. The King com-
manded the Serjeant of his Armoury, in November
in that year, to furnish the appellant with the re-
quisite weapons and armour ; and two Knights, two
Esquires, and an armourer were severally assigned
to him, and to the defendant, ^^ to be intendant and
^ . of council" to them/ The combat took place at
Smithfield, and the master was slain, in consequence
of his friends having given him too much wine.^
The other duel was between two persons of
much greater importance ; and it is a remarkable
circumstance that one of them was an ecclesiastic
of rank. Fitz Thomas, Prior of Kilmaine, having
impeached the Earl of Ormond of high treason^
and both having appealed to arms, a day was ap-
pointed to decide the quarrel. In the mean time
Ormond, who was then a prisoner in the Tower,
obtained permission to remain near Smithfield " for
" his breathing and more ease," to prepare himself
for the fight ; and the Prior, being unused to mortal
weapons, wisely took lessons in the art of defence
of one Philip Treher, a fishmonger of London,
whose services were paid by the Crown.* This
duel did not, however, end fatally, for the King
forbad the parties to proceed to extremities, though
1 pp. 55-57i />Mtoi.
2 Stow'8 Chronicle, p. 385 ; Fabian, p. 618 ; Hall, ed. 1809, p. 207.
* Vide p. xzy atUetu ^ pp. 55-59, posUa.
b 3
xxii PREFACE.
25 Hen.vi. they had actually met for the purpose, knd took
the affair into his own hands.
The only Minutes of the Council in the
1447. year 1447 are of the 19th of March, whence it
appears, among other matters, that the Scots had
broken the truce; that the garrison of Berwick
was discontented; and that the members of the
Privy Council were summoned to be present when
the French Ambassadors arrived.^
26 Hen.vi. No records of the Council in the 26th Hen. VI.,
1447-1448, have been discovered; and the few
which are preserved relating to the 27th of Henry
27 Hen.vi. VI. are by no means important. The earliest of
1448. . .
that year contain the answers which were given, on
the 30th of October 1448, to some questions sub-
mitted, on the part of the Duke of Somerset,
lieutenant-governor of France, respecting the mode
of proceeding in certain points connected with the
embassy to negociate a peace with Charles the
Seventh, but they are not very material.^ In con-
sequence of the aggressions of the Scotch, the
Bishop of Durham, the Earl of Westmoreland, and
five Barons and others, were excused, on the 3rd
J 449. of February 1449, from attending the Parliament
which was to meet on the 12th of that month ; and
they were commanded to remain in the North for
the securitv of the Marches.^
•f _
Commissioners were sent to the Duchess of
Burgundy, in March 1449, to remonstrate against
pp. 60f Slf posUa. 2 pp. 62, 63, posUa. ^ p. 65^ postea.
PREFACE, xxiii
^n ordinance which she had made, that no English 27 Heii.yL:
cloth should be sold m her dominions, of which
serious complaints had been made in Parliament ;
and they were also directed to advert to the as-
sembling of soldiers and warlike stores at St Qmer,
and endeavour to ascertain its object.^ This mission
does not appear to have been successful ; and in
July, Ambassadors were sent to the Duchess.
They were principally directed to complain of
various infringements of the truce, by the imprison-
ment and ill-usage of some merchants, the King's
subjects, on whose release, with full restitution of
their property, they were to insist. The prohibition
of English cloths was the next point which the
Ambassadors were to bring under the Duchess's con-
sideration ; and they were ordered to inform her
that Parliament had passed an Act, declaring that,
unless the ordinance in question was withdrawn,
no merchandize should be imported into England
from any part of her dominions.^
So much excitement was created in London
by the prohibition to sell cloth of English manu-
facture in Holland, that the Duchess's subjects in
the metropolis were assaulted by the populace ; and
in June, the Mayor and Sheriffs of London were
commanded to take measures for their safety.^
The discontent produced by the cession of 28Hen.vr.
the provinces of Anjou and Maine, the loss of
1449.
1 j^SSyposiecu 2 pp. 76-85, /xMfc«. ' pp-?*, IS^posiea.
b 4^
xxiv PREFACE.
28 Hen.vi, Rouen and of all Normandy, the suspicious death
of the Duke of Gloucester, and by the universal
dislike to the Marquess of Suffolk, at length broke
out into open rebellion. To use the forcible words
of a modern Historian, " every tongue was em-
•' ployed in bewailing the fallen glory of England,
** and every place resounded with cries of vengeance
*^ on the head of the minister."^ Satirical verses,
reflecting, in the severest manner, upon Suffolk and
his colleagues, were generally distributed, in which
the state of the country was lamented, and he him-
self covertly accused of having seduced the Duke
of Norfolk and other Peers to his designs.*
1 LiDgard, voLv. p. 171.
2 Some of these verses, of which the following are specimens, are
still preserved. The persons alluded to are described by their badges,
and their names are written over, in a contemporary hand. A fuller
account of these allusions will be found in the Excerpta Historica,
where they were first printed, p. 159, et seq. Other verses of the same
description will be found in Ritson's Ancient Songs and Ballads, and in
the Excerpta Historica, pp. 279, 357- Some satirical verses of a political
nature, written about 1399, are printed in the Archaeologia, voL xxi. p. 89.
The Rote^ is ded, the Swanne^ is goon*,
The firy Cressett ^ hath lost his lyght,
Therfore Inglond may make gret mone.
Were not the helpe of Godde Almyght*.
The Castell ^ is wonne, where care begown' ;
The Portecolys* is leyde a down' ;
Iclosid we haue oure welevette Hatte ^,
That keu'yd us from mony stormys brewn'.
The White Lion*7 ig leyde to slepe,
Thorou3 the envy of the Ape clogge ®;
1 Duke of Bedford. ^ Duke of Somerset
ft Duke of Gloucester. ^ Cardinal Wolsey, who died in 1447*
9 Duke of Exeter. 7 Duke of Norfolk.
^ Rouen. * Duke of Suffolk.
PREFACE. XXV
In February 1450, proclamations were issued 28 Hen.vi.
in Liondon, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, forbidding
And he is bown*den' that our' dor' shuld kepe^
That is Talbott our good dogge.^
The fissher' hath lost his Hangulhook' ^;
Gete theym agayn' when it woU' be.
Our' Myllesaylle* will' not abowte,
Hit hath so long' goon' emptye.
The Ber^ is boun'd that was so wild»
For he hath lost his Ragged Staff;
The Carte^ nathe is spokeles,
For the coun seill' that he gaff';
The Lily<^ b both fair' and grene ;
The Coun'dite^ rennyth not as I wene ;
The Comysshe chawgh^ ofit w^ his trayne
Hath made our' £gull'<^ blynde.
The White hard i<> is put out of mynde.
Be cause he woli' not to hem consent ;
Therfor' the Comyns saith is both trew and kynd,
Bothe in Southesex and in Kent.
The Wat' Bowge" and the Wyne botell',
With the Vetturlocks cheyne i* ben' fast ;
The Whete yer'^s ^oU' theym' susteyn'
As long' as he may endur' and last.
The Boor '** is farr' in to the west
That shold vs helpe w^ shild and sper' ;
The Fawkon'i^ fleyth, and hath no rest,
Tille he witte wher' to bigge his nest.
Prom a contemporary Roll in the British Museum, marked in the
Catalogue of the Cottonian Charters, II. 23.
1 Carl of Shxewabury. 8 John Treyiltan, esquire.
« I^ord Fauoonberg. * The King.
3 l.ord Willooghby. '<> The Earl of Arundel.
4 jEarl of Warwick. " Henry Lord Bourchier.
i Ouke of Buckxngfaam. '^ l^e Prior of St. John's.
« Thomas Daniel, an esquire of the " ** Exeter." Apparently Edmond
King's body. La«y bishop of Exeter.
- 7 John Norreys, an esquire of tlie »* Earl of Devonshire.
King's body. i^ Duke of York.
1450.
Xxvi PREFACE.
28Hen.vi. all persons, except Lords, Knights, and eminent
Esquires, from wearing arms or carrying weapons
of any kind ^; and about the same time the civil
authorities of Canterbury, Maidstone, Oxford, and
other cities and towns, were thanked for forwarding
to the King some letters which they had re-
ceived, respecting assemblies of the people, " under
" untrue faines and pretense colours of intending
" to the common weal of the land; whereas,
*^ as God knoweth, the intend of those that so
" labour is to the subversion thereof." The said
authorities were forbidden to give any credence
to those statements, whatever might be the rank
of the persons from whom they proceeded ; and
they were strictly commanded, not to suffer any
assemblies or gatherings of the populace, or to
admit them within the places under their jurisdic-
tion.^ On the 14th of April the Sheriffs of London
and Middlesex were directed to make a proclama-
tion against the dissemination of false and sedi-
tious rumours, bills, and defamatory libels, many
of which had been affixed to the doors of Churches,
and in other places.^
Although Suffolk had fallen a victim to public
resentment, on the 2nd of May*, when he was
murdered on board a vessel on the coast of Kent,
1 Fcedera, vol. xi. p. 262. ^ P* 91, postea.
9 Foedera, voLxi. p. 268.
4 See a very interesting account of the Duke of Suffolk's death, ia a
letter in the Fasten Correspondence, vol. i. p. 38.
PREFACE. xxvii
the spirit of rebellion was not quelled. The Com- gg Hen.VL
mons of Kent rose almost in a body, and placed ^*^
themselves under the leadership of an Irish adven-
turer of the name of John Cade, a " young man,"
says HaD ^, "of a goodly stature and pregnant
^ wit," who pretended to be a cousin of the Duke,
and called himself Mortimer, alleging that he was
illegitimately descended from Roger Mortimer, Earl
of March.^ Cade and his followers advanced to-
wards the metropolis, and about the middle of
June arrived at Blackheath. The Government
shewed no want of energy on the occasion. Its
first act was to dissolve the Parliament, which
was then sitting at Leicester ; and the King having
immediately returned to London, attended by many
Lords and twenty thousand men, took up his quar-
1 Ed. 1809, p. 220.
2 Gascoigne's MS., Vitellius, C« ix^ in the Cottonian Collection, cited
by Mr. Sharon Tomer, vol. iii. p. 185. In the proclamation for his appre-
ioDsioD, Cade is. said to have been bom in Ireland, and to have lived some
time in Sussex. It recites, that he was bom in Ireland ; that he had
during the year preceding lived in Sussex with Sir Thomas Dogre ; that
he had there slain a woman with child, and had fled to a church for safety,
and afterwards went abroad ; that, some years before, he had joined
the French party and dwelt with them, and now came to England to
enrich himself with robbing and despoiling the King's liege men.
Stow, p. 391.
According to a Roll in the Cottonian collection of Charters, quoted in
JEllis's Original Letters, second series, voL i. p. 1 12, containing the
names of persons indicted at Rochester in August 1451, Cade was
likewise called Mr. John Alymere, physician ; and it is there said that
he had married a " squire's daughter of Taundede." Stow says he was
also called John AmendaUy a name evidently derived from the object
xxviii PREFACE,
28 Hen.vi. ters at St. John's Hospital near Smithfield.^ The
^^^* particulars and result of Cade's rebellion^ are too
well known to require any further allusion to it,
than to notice the information which the articles
in this volume afford. The first of those papers
is a list of the artillery with which Henry took
the field at Blackheath on the 20th of June, and
which consisted of nine large " rebaudkins," re-
quiring the attendance of thirty persons, consisting
of gunners, carpenters, smiths, and masons.^ The
Tower of London was ordered to be victualled, and
put in a state of defence on the 30th of June®;
and, on the following day, Commissioners were
appointed to array the inhabitants of Cheshire
and Lancashire/
On the 12th of July the Treasurer and Cham-
berlains of the Exchequer were ordered to seize to
the King's use, all goods, jewels, money, and other
property which had been taken by Cade and his
associates, and to expend the same in the public
service, especially in endeavouring to make him
and them prisoners.^ Cade was, however, killed
which he professed to have in view, — of redressing all grievances* It
ought to have been noticed, in p. 107, that the article respecting the
disposal of the bodies of the traitors is printed in Sir Henry £llis'&
Collection of Original Letters.
1 William of Worcester, pp. 469, 4?70.
2 A very interesting account of the insurgents' army, and of theU
leader, will be found in the Paston Correspondence, vol. i. p. 54, et seq*
in a letter from a person who had fallen into their hands.
* P- 94,/>wtea. 4 pp. 94., 95, pastea, » pp. 96, 97, postea.
PREFACE. xxix
on the preceding day, in a garden in Sussex, 28Hen-Vi»
by Alexander Iden, the Sheriff of KentS who ^*^'
obtained an order, on the 15th of that month,
for the payment of the 1,000 marks which had
been oflfered, on the 10th, to any one who should
bring Cade's body to the Council.^ Ten pounds
vere directed to be paid to Holes, the Keeper of
the Privy Seal, for the expences of his journey
when he was sent by the King to communicate with
Cade ; and six horses, which had belonged to him,
were given to Holes, in consideration of his having
to perform another journey in the King's service
and being destitute of horses.^ Part of Cade's
effects were appropriated to the erection of the
East Gate in the city of Rochester ; but the most
curious documents relate to the disposal of the
bodies of the rebels, upon which was wreaked all
the impotent vengeance that the barbarity of the
times could suggest
After the death of Cade, the title of " Captain 29 Hen.vi.
" of Kent'' was assumed by a person called John ^*^'
Smyth, who was made prisoner by the Duke of
Somerset in October following, for whose caption
a reward . of j£40 was paid ; and twenty marks
per diem were then assigned to the Duke, for
his services in suppressing the insurgents in
1 Fabian, ed. 1811, p. 625.
3 Stow, p. S92 ; and Foedera, vol. xi. p. 275.
9 pp. 98, 99, pottea.
29Heii.yL Kent.^ Among the traitors who lost their lives
1450. . .
in that rebellion, the names of Nicholas Jakes,
Thomas Cheyney, who pretended to be a hermit
called " Blue-beard V' and John Ramsey, a wine-
drawer, are conspicuous. It appears that the
quarters of Jakes were sent to Chichester, Roches-
ter, Portsmouth, and Colchester ; that the head
of Cheyney was sent to Canterbury, and his
quarters to London, Norwich, and the Cinque
Ports ; and that the corpse of Ramsey was divided
among Stamford, Newbury, Coventry, and Win-
chester, his head being placed on London Bridge.
The body of the " great traitor," Mortimer or Cade,
was drawn on a hurdle through the streets of
London, his head was affixed on London Bridge,
and his quarters were exhibited at Blackheath,
Norwich, Salisbury, and Gloucester. The selection
of those cities and towns for the exhibition of
the rebels' bodies indicates the most disaffected
parts of England ; and it is worthy of observation,
that, so far from their crimes being held in ab-
horrence, it was found scarcely possible to induce
any one to convey these horrible relics to the above-
mentioned places, from "fear of their lives." ^ In
contemplating this disgusting proceeding, it is
1 pp. 101, 102, posUa.
2 << Then of this grudge ensued rebellion of the Commons, insomuch
<< that they assembled them in sundry places, and made of themselves
<< captains^ and ruxmed them JBlueheard, and other counterfeit names.
Fabian, ed. 181 1, p, 622. See also Stow, p. 387.
s pp. 107> 108, posUa.
»»
PREFACE. xxxi
satisfactory to know that the savage spirit of the 29 Heii.Vl,
Law which sanctioned it, was foreign to, at least, one
contemporary mind. The amiable Henry himself,
is said by an eye witness, to have shewn the utmost
horror on accidentally seeing the mutilated remains
of a traitor thus exposed. Ignorant of the meaning
of such an outrage on humanity, he inquired the
cause, and on being told that it was for an offence
against his Royal dignity, he ordered them to be
removed, benignly exclaiming, " I will not permit
" any Christian to be treated in that manner.*'^
A slight sketch of the state of parties and of the
country between June 1450 and the commencement
of the year 1454, is a necessary introduction to the
Proceedings of the Council in that period. »
After the fall of the Duke of Suffolk, who was
the victim of popular clamour and of the weakness
of the Government, rather than of his own crimes.
Cardinal Kemp, Archbishop of York, succeeded as
principal Minister; but in consequence of the King's
iUness and incapacity, the regal power was, in fact,
exercised by his Consort, whose masculine talents
and ambition formed a striking contrast to her
husband's meekness and timidity.
There was, however, a personage who, from
his proximity to the throne, his talents, and his
alliance with many powerful families of the realm,
was a most formidable rival to any minister whom
I See Blackmail's account of Henry the Sixth, at the end of Otter*
bourne's Chronide, printed by Heame, p. 301.
XXXii PREFACE.
29 HeiuVl. the Royal favour could create ; and who was,
*^ * moreover, very unlikely to neglect the advantages
which nature and his own merits had given him.
Richard Plantagenet Duke of York was, through
his mother, the lineal heir of the Duke of Clarence,
the third son of King Edward the Third ; and he
had thus an hereditary and Common Law right to
the Crown prior, to that of Henry himself; but not
possessing the influence in the King's Councils
which his station and talents alike justified him in
expecting, mutual jealousy and distrust existed
between himself, the Queen, and the Ministers,
At the time of Cade's rebellion, the Duke of
York was Lieutenant of Ireland ; but the perilous
condition of affairs both in England and France,
and perhaps a regard for his own interests, which
were likely to be compromised by any public
disaster, induced him suddenly to return to this
country. He arrived at his castle of Ludlow in
Wales about August or September 1450, where he
directed his followers to join him. Lord de L'Isle
was dispatched by the King to impede his move-
ments^ ; and a numerous body of the retainers of
Lord Grey de Ruthyn having met a lawyer, of the
name of Tresham, (who had been Speaker of the
House of Commons,) on his way to join the Duke,
attacked and murdered him near Northampton/*
The Duke of York, who had collected upwards of
1 William of Worcester, p. 473.
2 Ihid.; and Rot Pari., vol. v. pp. 211, 21S.
PREFACE. xxxiii
49OOO9 and according to some writers, as many as 29 HeD.vi.
10,000 foDowers, proceeded to London towards the ^^
end of September, and repaired to the King. He
represented to Henry the state of the Kingdom,
exhibited a long catalogue of grievances S and
prayed him to summon a Parliament. It is said
that the Duke of York conducted himself, in this
interview, with violence, but that he was subdued
by the King's dignity and moderation, who is re-
ported to have answered as " if the spirit of the
" wisdom of God were in him.^" Finding the
Government too strong to be intimidated, York
retired to Fotheringay ; and the Duke of Somerset,
whose surrender of Caen shortly before had in-
spired York with contempt for his capacity equal
to the jealousy which he had long felt of his in-
fluence, was recalled from Normandy, placed at the
head of affairs, and made Constable of England.^
These appointments served, however, only to
weaken the Administration, which they were in-
tended to strengthen, in consequence of Somerset's
extreme unpopularity, he being supposed to have
lost Normandy by his misconduct.
In November, Parliament met at Westminster,
pursuant to writs issued on the 5th of September,
to provide for the defence of the Kingdom and the
J Stow, p. 393, eiseq, 2 Rot ParU voL v. p. 346.
^ His appointment was dated at Rochester, on the 11th of September
1450, to which dty he, with the Duke of Buckingham, the Lord Chan-
cellor, and others, had accompanied the King for the punishment of
Cade's adherents. Foedera, vol. xi. p. 276 ; Paston Letters, vol iii. p. 88.
VOL. VI. C
xxxiv PREFACE.
29 Hen.VL safeguard of the sea, to afford aid to the King^s
subjects in Aquitaine, and to punish and suppress
riots in various parts of the Realm ^; but it was soon
afterwards prorogued, and did not meet again until
the ensuing spring. According to a contemporary
chronicler ^ Parliament was principally occupied
with the quarrel between the Dukes of York and
Somerset, but no allusion to the subject occurs
on the Rolls; and it is also stated by the same
writer, that the Duke of Norfolk appeared on the
occasion with a large retinue in support of the
Duke of York, and that a lawyer of the name of
Young^, having proposed to declare that Prince
heir to the Crown, he was committed to the
Tower.
The Commons then requested that certain
Peers and others, who are named, should be re-
moved from the King's presence ; but the demand
was only partially granted, though Henry's answer
was given in very conciliatory terms. * The most
memorable Act of that Parliament was one to
1 Rot Pari, vol. v. p. 210. 2 William of Worcester, p. 474^
* In 1455| Young petitioned for a recompence for his losses and ex-
pences during his imprisonment, which he estimated at 1,000 marks. He
did not, however, state precisely the cause of his arrest, but only that,
contrary to the freedom of debate allowed to the Commons, and in con-
sequence of " untrue sinister reports made to the King of him for matters
" by him shewed in the House accustomed for the Commons in Parlia-
** ment," he had been arrested and publicly led to the Tower, and
there << grievously in great duress long time imprisoned." Rot ParL
voL V. p. 337.4
^ Rot Pari, vol. v. p. 216.
PREFACE. XXXV
enable the Crown to resume all grants which had 29 Hen.VL
been made since Henry^s accession, in consequence
of his debts (which amounted to jC372,000, his
yearij revenue being only £5,000, whilst his House-
hold alone required £23,000), and of the inability
of the people to bear any additional burthens.^
Though the Duke of York's first attempt to
place himself at the head of the Government was
imsuccessfid, he only waited for a favourable oppor-
tunity to renew it : nor were his partizans neglectful
of his interests in the mean time. Many parts of
the Kingdom were the scenes of tumultuous assem-
blies ; and a quarrel which arose between the Earl
of Salisbury and Thomas Percy, Lord Egremont, a
younger son of the Earl of Northumberland, the
origin of which is unknown, but which lasted for
a considerable time, and will be again particularly
noticed, is assigned as the principal cause of the
civil war.^ The Duke of York having married
Cecily, a daughter of the Earl of Westmorland, he
was the brother-in-law of the Earl of Salisbury, and
w« thus, not only closely allied to the powerful
family of Neville, but with numerous others of the
nobility, many of whom supported him with zeal
and fidelity.
In February 1452, York, who had again retired
to Ludlow Castle, determined to assert his own
rights; and to wrest the Government from the
hands of Somerset and the Queen's party. On
» Rot. Pari., vol. v. p. 217. ^ William of Worcester, p. 476.
C 2
xxxvi PREFACE.
29Hcn.vi. the 13th of that month he wrote to the citizens
1450-
of Shrewsbury, stating the misconduct of Somerset
in losing Normandy, which had led to the recovery
of Gascony and Guienne by the French, and
pointing out the enemy's attempts on Calais, and
their intention to invade this country. He told
them that since his return from Ireland, he had
exposed the condition of affairs to the King : he
said that his advice had not only failed through
Somerset's machinations, but that the latter had
endeavoured to attaint him and his followers of
treason ; and he concluded by calling upon them to
assist his determination to proceed with his kins-
men and friends against Somerset, for the welfare
of the realm, keeping, however, within the bounds
of his allegiance to the King.^
Henry took the field, and marched to oppose
the Duke of York, attended by the Duke of Somer-
set and many other Peers. York avoided meeting
them, by taking a different route to London from
that by which they had advanced ; but being refused
admittance into the city, he crossed the Thames and
took up his quarters near Dartford in Kent. The
King's army having followed, they met at Black-
heath, where, after several communications^, ami-
cable terms were agreed upon, the principal of
1 See this important letter, printed from the original, in " Ellis's Ori*
<< ginal Letters/* first series, vol. i. p. 11. ; and another letter, dated on
the 9th of January, in Stow's Annals, p. 39S.
2 These letters or declarations will be found in Stow's Annals, pp. 394<»
395.
PREFACE. xxxvii
which was that Somerset should be arrested and 29 Hen.yi.
remain in ward until he had answered the charges
brought against him ; upon which York dismissed
his followers, and submitted himself to the King.
His confidence in the Royal promises was, how-
ever, misplaced. He was treated as a prisoner,
until the Council were induced to release him, in
consequence of the arrival of disastrous news from
Guienne, and the prevalence of a rumour, that his
son, the Earl of March, was approaching the me-
tropolis with a large army to rescue him. On the
10th of March the Duke of York swore fidelity to
the King in St. Paul's church ; and he soon after-
wards retired into Wales.
Somerset's influence remained not only unim-
paired, but new marks of the Royal confidence were
conferred upon him, as he was made Captain of
Calais in September 1451S and Lieutenant of the
Marches of Picardy, Flanders, and Artois, in De-
cember following.^ A Council was held at Coven-
try in September, in the King's presence, for the
purpose of reconciling the Dukes of York and
Somerset ^ but only a hollow and temporary ac-
conunodation was effected ; and though both
parties met in the next Parliament, which assem-
bled at Reading on the 6th of March 1453, to
provide for the government of the Kingdom, and
for its defence against foreign enemies, nothing is
recorded to have been done to reconcile the two
i Rot Francke, 80 Hen. VI., m. 17. » Ibid. m. 12.
» William of Worcester, p. 476.
C 3
xxxviii PREFACE.
■
29 Hen.VL factions, whose animosity prevented the accomplish-
^* ^' ment of either of the objects for which it was
summoned. Parliament was prorogued on the 2nd
of June, and, by subsequent prorogations, until
March in the following year, before which time a
total change had occurred in public affairs.
The most interesting of the proceedings of the
Council collected in this volume, between 1451
and 1454, will now be pointed out. A command
was issued to the Treasurer and Barons of the
Exchequer, in January 1451, to which some im-
portance ought, perhaps, to be attached. They
were directed to disregard all orders previously
given, or which might hereafter be given, by
Letters or Warrants, to surcease Legal processes
and judgments, except by the authority of the
Council ; and to proceed effectually in all matters
relating to the Crown according to the due course
of Law.^
1452. One article only has been found relating to the
Duke of York's adherents in the 30th of Henry
the Sixth. On the 17th of February 1452, a
letter was sent to Edward Brooke Lord Cobham,
who was one of the Duke's principal advisers,
stating, that he had disobeyed the King's com-
mands to attend a Great Council which had been
summoned in consequence of "the great untruth
" and disobedience which is meant and proposed
1 p. 104(9 postea.
PREFACE. xxxix
<< against us and against our estate, and against our so Hen-Vi.
** unirersal policy, and welfare of this our land,
^^ the wliich, with the grace of our Lord, shall not
^ take such effect as the authors and labourers
^ thereof purpose and intend, but shall be so re-
^ buked and chastised as it shall be to the pleasure
^ of God and to the worship of us, and to the weal
« of this our reahn ;" and charging him, in the
strongest language, to repair, without a moment^s
delay, to his Majesty's presence, and there ^* wait
" vapoa hrm, and do service such as it fitteth our
« true liegeman," upon peril of his indignation,
and its consequences.^ It is highly probable that a
similar letter was sent to all the other Lords of the
Duke of York's party.
Little additional information is afforded by the
Proceedings of the Council in this year than what
relates to Calais. Historians do not appear to have
been aware of the danger in which that town then
stood, nor of the efforts made by the Government
for its defence.^ In the summer of 1451, the Lords
Seaachamp and Sudeley were sent there with a
reinlorcement of 1,150 men, besides the crews of
the twelve vessels which conveyed them ^; and in
Mardk following, letters were written to Lord
Clifford, which, afler thanking him for his former
1 pp.116, injpaaea.
2 A letter in the Paston Correspondence, dated on the 6th of May
1450, states that it was then rumoured that Calais would be besieged
within the next seven days, vol. u p. 46.
3 pp. 112, 113, postea.
C 4
xl PREFACE.
80 Hen. VI. eminent services, acquainted him that the King of
France was about to proceed to the Marches of
Calais with the largest army that had been assem-
bled in that Kingdom for many years, and " with
" as great ordinance and devices of war as any
^^ man hath seen,'" intending to take Calais and
other places there by siege, and afterwards to
invade England, "to the intent to destroy and
" despoil it, and the dwellers of the same/'
Clifford was, therefore, directed to proceed to Calais
as speedily as possible, and to offer all the resistance
in his power to the enemy's designs. He was told
that the King had appointed the Earl of Shrews-
bury Commander of the Army on the sea, and
that certain ships were ready in the Thames, at
Winchelsea and Sandwich: and he was desired
to use his utmost exertions to induce the several
Knights, Ship-owners, and others, to whom he was
furnished with credentials, to give their services on
that occasion. To encourage Lord Clifford the
more, all the ships and men he could raise were
placed under his command, and he was directed
to bring them to the Downs or the Camber^
without delay.^ Further instructions were sent
to him on the 22nd of the same month, containing
the names of the ships he was to employ^; but
the remainder of the document is lost.
From the critical state of England, and the
> Vide Yoi\. Preface. * pp. 119-122, /w^eo,
3 p. }2iffpos(ea.
PREFACE. xli
peril with which her provinces in France were 30Hen.vi.
threatened, the Government was naturally anxious
to prevent the Scots from being added to the
number of her enemies. Lord Poynings, War-
den of the East Marches, and the Lieutenants
of Tyndale, Redesdale, and Roxborough were
commanded, in May in this year, upon their faith
and allegiance, to preserve the existing truce by
every means in their power, notwithstanding it
had been violated by the followers of the Earl of
Douglas, whose conduct had led to reprisals ; and
they were told, that whenever the King should be
DO longer disposed to maintain the truce, they
would be so informed, until which time they
were strictly ordered not to allow any thing to
be done which might tend to disturb it.^
No other Proceedings of the Council in the ^i Hen-Vl.
31st of Henry the Sixth, relating to the domestic
affairs of the Kingdom, have been discovered, than
numerous letters and ordinances respecting the
quarrel between the Nevilles and Lord Egremont
before alluded to. If William of Worcester be
correct in saying that the dispute originated be-
tween the Earl of Salisbury and Egremont two
years before, it is, nevertheless, certain that the
EarFs younger son. Sir John Neville, had so
warmly espoused his father's cause as to have
become the principal actor in the scene. The
1 pp. 125, 126, poHea.
31 Hen. VI. retainers of both parties having, agreeably to the
custom of the age, adopted their Lords' quarrel,
the counties of York, Cumberland, Westmorland,
and Northumberland were thrown into commotion,
and the usual results of personal affrays, pillage,
and murders, ensued.^ Egremont was peremptorily
summoned, on the 7th of June 1453, to appear
before the King to answer for his conduct, but as
he had disobeyed the command, it was repeated in
still stronger terms towards the end of that month;
and he was directed, in the mean time, not to break
the peace himself, nor allow it to be broken by any
of his followers^; similar injunctions being issued
to Sir John Neville. The efforts of the Sheriff
of Cumberland to maintain tranquillity were use-
less, as his followers were beaten, and Egremont
even threatened that he would have the Sheriff's
head for daring to interfere.^ These riots having
become alarming, a Commission, of which Sir
William Lucy was at the head, was sent into the
North, with letters to the Earls of Northumberland
and Salisbury, as well as to Egremont and Neville,
and to several Knights and Esquires of each party,
commanding them to discontinue their proceed-
ings ; and those noblemen were also directed to
use their utmost exertions in dispersing the rioters,*
It will be seen, however, that the disorders were
1 Vide Rot ParU vol. v. pp. 894-396. 2 pp. 140, 141, postecu
9 See a petition from Thomas de la More, Sheriff of Cumberland, to
the King on the Rolls of Parliament, vol. vi. p. 163.
4 pp. Ii0'l54f, posteai
PREFACE. xliii
not tenninated until after the accession of the 31 Hen.vi.
Duke of York and the Earl of Salisbury to power.
Thou^ not shewn to be implicated in these pro-
ceedings, it is evident that Lord Grey of Ruge-
moDt, or, as he was more commonly called, Lord
Sugemont Grey, had given some displeasure to
the Government, he having been commanded to
attend the Council, without excuse or delay, in
July in the same year.^
The remaining documents belonging to the
year 1453, relate to an appeal of battle by a
person called John Lyalton against one Robert
Norres, who had accused him of high treason.
Like the parties before mentioned*, they were
to fight at Smithfield under the authority of
the Constable of England. Their weapons, which
consisted of glaives, short swords, daggers, and
axes, instead of long swords, were provided by
the King's armourer. Hie Sheriffi of London
were ordered to erect a scaffold for the King, with
the necessary barriers and lists, and to gravel and
sand the ground at his Majesty's cost. Besides
Eoii^ts and others, who were assigned as counsel
on each side, both the appellant and defendant
claimed the services of an armourer and a painter
^^ after the custom of old time used."^ It is
manifest that appeals to personal combat, even
when the parties were obscure, excited the greatest
1 p. H2» po9ka. 2 Vide p. xxi, amtea*
9 pp. 129; lS3-liO, postea.
xliv PREFACE.
81 Hen.vi. interest among all classes ; and that the King not
only provided weapons, tents, and other things
for the battle, but that, as in this instance, he
furnished the combatants with money to procure
whatever else they might require. The result of
this quarrel has not been ascertained ; and it is
rather singular, considering the attention usually
shewn to these matters, that it is not noticed by
any chronicler.
A large army having been sent to Guienne
under the veteran Earl of Shrewsbury, at the
request of the inhabitants, to defend them against
the French, loans were borrowed from individuals
for its equipment and support ; and they were
required to pay them, lest they should be consi-
dered " letters and breakers of the said army."^
The mayors and customers of the sea ports were
directed, in August, to use all possible means to
induce owners and masters of ships to serve in the
expedition^, as intelligence had been received that
the French were assembling a large fleet in the
Gironde to oppose the entrance of the English.^
That every effort was made to raise the necessary
supplies, is apparent from two documents relating
to the sale of alum and tin, the produce of which
commodities was to be applied to that object.*
S2HeD.yL So far from the efforts of the Council to
^*^^' suppress the riots in the North, arising out of the
1 p. 14S,/KWtea. 2 pp. 151, 152,/KWtea.
3 p. ISSyposUa. ^ pp. \S% 153, ISlfpastea,
PREFACE. xlv
quarrel of the Nevilles and Lord Egremont, having S2 Hen.vi.
been successiiil, the tumults became more serious ;
and many of the Minutes of the Council in the
latter part of the year 1453 refer to that subject.
In October, the Earl of Westmorland and
Bobert Neville, Bishop of Durham, were specially
thanked, in the King's name, for their exertions in
quelling those disturbances, and for not having
afforded any countenance to the leaders, notwith-
standing their near relationship to them; and a
similar acknowledgment was sent to Booth, Arch-
bishop of York.^
Very strong and remarkable letters were also
written to the Earls of Salisbury and Northumber-
land, the fathers of the parties chiefly concerned,
stating that they had heretofore been considered
^ sad, sober, and well ruled men ;" that the high
rank which they held was given to them, not to
be abused, but for the worship of God and sup-
port of the King's laws and peace, to the preser-
vation of which they were the more bound from
being Commissioners of the peace, and Lords of
the Council; that their oath in taking the latter
office obliged them, in case of a quarrel between
Lord and Lord tending to a breach of the peace,
and involving themselves, to be governed by the
other Members of the Council, and not to seek
redress at their own hands ^; that it had been
1 pp. 158, ISd^pottecu
2 Vide Hot ParU voL y. p. 415 ; and Proceedings of the Council^
ToL iiL pp. 175,176, 219 ; vol. iv. p. 36.
xlvi PREFACE.
*
32 Hen.vi. recently ordered by Parliament, that if any Lord
had cause of complaint against another, he should
state it in writing ; that, notwithstanding the ex-
press orders which had been sent to them to pre-
vent riotous meetings, they, without any complaint
being made to the King, had ventured to as-
semble " a greater number of persons, and thereto
^^ had appointed time and place, than had before
" been collected in this country within the me-
" mory of man." The Earls were then assured,
that if any lives were lost in consequence, both
themselves and all who assisted them should
be " so chastised, " that they and all others
" should have matter and cause to eschew to
" attempt any thing like hereafter;" and as for
themselves, they were told that if they had " so
** attempted against our estate and yours, deserving
" thereby to be stranged from the occupation of
^^ the said estate that ye stand, we shall in no
" wise spare you in this case, but rather more
" grievously punish you than we would do the
" least person in our land, the which, nevertheless,
" as the Lord knoweth, we would be right loth
" to do."^ To Lord Egremont himself a letter of
still greater severity was dispatched. He was
reminded that the King had not long before,
(namely, in November 1449,) raised him to the rank
of a Baron, not for the services he had rendered,
but from confidence in those he would perform.
^ pp. 159, ISlfpostea.
PREFACE. xlvii
especiallj in preserving the peace of the country ; 38 Hen.vi.
but that, instead of doing so, he had used his
influence for a contrary purpose, for which he
deserved to be deprived of that rank, especially
as ie had not only disobeyed the. King's com-
maods sent to him in the preceding July, but
continued daily to assemble armed persons, ready
for the field, as if it were a time of war. He was
therefore strictly enjoined to disperse his followers,
and to maintain the public peace by every means
in his power. ^ Sir John Neville received a letter
to the same purport, omitting only the preamble
which referred to the dignity of the Peerage.^
The loss of Guienne, which happened soon
after the fatal battle of Chastillon, in July in this
year, the mental imbecility into which the King
had fidlen, the disturbances in the North, and the
dissensions among some of the most powerful
noblemen of the Bealm, induced the Ministers to
summon a Great Council in October. Though
entitled to attend that meeting, as a right incidental
to his Peerage, there is some doubt whether the
Duke of York was originally summoned to be
present. Such an omission would have been little
short of an insult, if not almost an imputation of
treason ; but it is certain, from a remarkable docu-
ment in a subsequent page, that the Duke either
had not, or pretended not to have, received a com-
mand to attend. The circumstance appears to
1 pp. l6l'\6S^pa8tea. ^ p. 163, poHea.
xlviii PREFACE.
82Hen.vi. have excited considerable interest, as Sir James
1453.
Tyrrell, himself a member of the Comicil, was
sent to him in the King's name, with a summons
in the usual fonn ; and he was ordered to acquaint
him that one object of assembling a Great Council
was to restore harmony among the Peers of the
Realm, and that as it was supposed dissension
existed between the Duke and some other Lords^
the King desired his attendance, stipulating, how-
ever, that he should not be accompanied by an
unusual number of followers.^
The Duke of Somerset was not a party to
this communication to the Duke of York, which
was probably meant as an invitation to him to
assume the direction of affairs ; for it is the earliest
notice that has been found of a change in the
policy of the Government, and it was speedily
followed by his obtaining absolute power. York
attended the Council early in December following,
when the next of its proceedings, now extant, took
place ^; but the Duke of Somerset was not present
on the occasion, and in January following that
personage was committed to the Tower.^
14?54. On the 13th of February 1454, authority was
granted to the Duke of York, as the King's Lieu-
tenant, to assemble Parliament on the 15th of that
month/ One of the first subjects to which the
1 pp. 163, 164, poHea. 2 p. 165, postea.
8 See an article respecting Somerset's imprisonment, in pp. Ixiii — Ixy.
4 Fcedera, vol. xi. p. 344. Rot Pari., vol. v. p. 240.
PREFACE. xlix
Lords of the Council directed their attention was S2 Heii.Vl*
the King's health. On the 15th of March, they
agreed that a Commission should be issued to
three physicians and two surgeons, to attend and
prescribe for Henry's illness; and the minute
manner in which their powers are described is
not a little curious.^ The Commission itself was
not, however, issued until the 6th of April, nearly
three weeks after.^ Cardinal Kemp, Archbishop
of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, died on the
22nd of that month; and it became absolutely
necessary, for the appointment of his successor, to
ascertain the exact state of the King's mind. A
Committee, consisting of twelve Peers, was accor-
dingly sent to Henry, at Windsor, to learn his
pleasure on the subject. The Committee returned,
and made its report on the 25th, to the effect
that it was impossible to obtain an answer from
the King, who did not recognize them, nor even
seem aware of their presence ; and that to tlieir
inquiries " they could get no answer or sign for
no prayer nor desire lamentable cheer nor ex-
hortation, nor any thing that they or any of
*^ them could do or say, to their great sorrow and
*^ discomfort."^ The apathy into which Henry had
fallen was not mental only : his bodily illness was
no less severe, for he was obliged to be led be-
tween two men from one room to the other.*
64
66
1 pp. 166, 167, postea, 2 Foedera, vol. xi. p. 347.
3 Rot. Pari., vol. v. pp. 240, 242. 4 Und.
VOL. VI. d
1 PREFACE.
32Hen.VL In this emergency the Lords proceeded to
provide for the exercise of the Royal authority, on
the 27th of the same month, by electing and
nominating (without any reference to the Com-
mons) the Duke of York, as Protector and Defender
of the Kealm, during the King's pleasure.^ The
Duke, however, wisely insisted upon deriving his
authority from an Act of Parliament ; and it is
remarkable that he should state, in his answer to
the Lords, that he accepted the office " not from
" his own presumption, but only of the due and
" humble obedience that I owe to do unto the
" King, our most dread and Sovereign Lord, and
" to you, the Peerage of this land, in whom, by
" the occasion of the infirmity of our said Sove-
" reign Lord, resteth the exercise of his authority."^
In compliance with his request, that his powers
might be specified, the Lords declared him " Chief
" of the King's Council, and Protector and
** Defender of the Realm," in preference to
*^ the title of Tutor, Lieutenant Governor, or
" Regent, or any name which might imply
" authority of governance of the land." The
Duke further desired that such Peers as might
be chosen members of the Council should accept
the office ; to which the Lords replied, that those
who were named of the Council should consult
together on the subject. An Act was passed, ac-
cording to the Duke's desire, with the assent oF
J Rot Pari., vol. v. p. 242.
PREFACE. li
the Commons, on the 3rd of April ; but the dura^ 32 Hen. vi.
tion of the Protectorship was limited to the King's
pleasure, and was to cease when " Edward, the
" King's eldest son," attained to years of discretion.^
The first exercise of the Protector's authority
was to consolidate his power, by appointing his
brother-in-law, the Earl of Salisbury, Lord Chan-
cellor, whose patent for that office was, in fact,
dated * on the day before the Statute consttituting
the Duke Protector of the Realm, was passed ; but
it is evident fi-om the Minutes of the Council four
days before^, that he was even then considered as
Chancellor. Salisbury was the first and only lay-
man who had held that situation during Plenry's
reign ; and he was succeeded by an ecclesiastic
early in the following year. The Captaincy of
Calais, one of the most confidential posts in the
gifi: of the Crown, was soon after conferred upon
Salisbury's eldest son, the Earl of Warwick. In
the promotion of Bishops, recommended by the
Council on the 30th of March, Salisbury's influence
is also apparent ; for although his son, George
Neville, was not then elevated to the Episcopal
bench, it was specially provided that he should
have the next vacant See ; and in 1456 he was
elected Bishop of Exeter.* This Minute shews,
what perhaps has never been doubted, that for-
merly, as in more recent times, high birth afforded
1 Rot, ParU vol. v. pp. 24-2, 243. ^ Fcedera, vol. xi. p. 345.
» 30th March, p. 169, postea. ^ Vide p. 169, and p. Ixxvii, postea.
d 2
lii PREFACE.
32 Hen. VI, Strong claims to a mitre, for Thomas Bourchier,
Bishop of Ely, a great grandson of King Edward
the Third, was then selected for the Archiepiscopal
See of Canterbury, in consequence of his " great
" merits, virtues, and great blood that he is of;"
and though George Neville's virtues and " cun-
" ning" were mentioned, his " blood," and being
" son to the Earl of Salisbury, the Chancellor,"
are specially noticed,^
A dispute having arisen, as to who was legally
Lieutenant of Ireland, it was ordered that all grants
assigned for that country should be paid to the
Treasurer of England only, until the question was
decided ; but the matter having been settled, the
Council, on the 15th of April, rescinded its former
order.^
On the 16th of April, the Council was spe-
cially directed to assemble on the 6th of May, to
take measures for the internal government of the
Realm, and for its exterior defence, particularly for
the safeguard of Calais.^ This article is presumed to
contain the names of all the Members of the Privy
Council on the 16th of April, whence (supposing it
to be perfect) it appears that the Council consisted
of the Dukes of York, Norfolk, and Buckingham ;
the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of Winchester,
Ely, Norwich, Lichfield, and Lincoln ; the Earls
of Salisbury, Warwick, Oxford, Worcester, Shrews-
1 p. 169, postecL, 2 pp^ 172, 173, postecu
« pp. 174, 175, posfea.
PREFACE. liii
bury, and Wiltshire; the Prior of St. John's of 32Hen.vi.
Jerusalem ; the Lords Cromwell, Sudeley, Scales, ^^^'
Dudley, Stourton, Willoughby, and Clinton ; Sir
Thomas Stanley, and John Say, Esquire. As there
is not any correct list of the Council for some time
before the Duke of York became Protector, it is
uncertain what changes he made in that body ;
but the names of the Bishops of Salisbury and
Rodiester, who were present when the Duke was
summoned to attend the Council on the 24th of
October 1454, and of Sir Thomas TyrrelP, who
was the bearer of that summons, are not in the
preceding list Nor does it agree with the names
of those persons who were present in the Council
on the 15th of March, or on the 1st and 8th of
April ; nor even, exactly, with those who attended
on the preceding day. The more recent variations
were the omission of Robert Neville, Bishop of
Durham ; of the Bishops of London, Worcester, and
Hereford ; of Jasper Earl of Pembroke, and the
Earl of Devon ; of the Abbots of Battle, Gloucester,
and Selby ; and of the Lords Say, Abergavenny,
Scrope, Fauconberg, Greystock, and " Talbot."^
The only new members were the Duke of
Norfolk, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord CromweD, Sir
Thomas Stanley, and John Say. It appears, there-
fore, that on the 16th of April the Council was re-
1 Sir ThomaB TyrreD, with Sir William Lucy, Sir Thomas Stanley,
and Sir Thomas Harrington, were, however, summoned to attend a
Great Council on the 25th of June in that year. p. iS6,postea,
3 It is doubtful who the person was who signed himself <^ Talbot"
d 3
liv PREFACE.
32 Hen. VI. modelled, by the addition of five Yorkists and the
^*^* dismissal of fifteen persons ; and that it was made
to consist of twenty-seven, instead of thirty-seven
members/ The omission of the Archbishop of
Canterbury, whose predecessors had claimed a seat
in the Privy Council as a matter of right^, is ex-
plained by that See being then vacant. Thomas
Bourchier, the next Archbishop, who was at that
time Bishop of Ely, was one of the new Council,
and did homage for the See of Canterbury early
in September 1454.^
Though many of the Peers who attended that
Parliament had agreed to provide soldiers, at their
own cost, for the defence of Calais, which was
menaced with a siege by as great an army, both
by sea and land, as the French and their allies
could possibly collect, and " such as had not before
" been seen," it became necessary to apply, on
the 17th of April, to such Lords as had not con-
tributed, to imitate the example of their Peers, or
to make grants of money for the purpose, in consi-
deration of what "a jewel" that town was, with what
" labour, pain, and outrageous costs" it had been
acquired, and the injury which would attend its
loss/
In May, the Protector commenced vigorous
proceedings against Lord Egremont and the Percys,
1 Before the 16th of May the Dean of St. Severin was appointed a
member of the Council, p. 130, pastea.
2 Vide Rot. Pari., vol. iii. p. 223.
^' Paston Letters, vol. iii. p. 223. •* pp. 175-177, posiea.
PREFACE. ]v
and other rioters in the North, actuated partly, 32Heii.vi.
. 14S4
perhaps, by the Earl of Salisbury's animosity against
them. The mediation of the Archbishop of York
had succeeded in preventing many of the mischiefs
which were likely to ensue from those tumults ; but
on the 10th of that month, the Earl of Northumber-
land was reminded of his son's disobedience ; and
after being informed, that such conduct would no
longer be permitted, was told that his own pre-
sence was desired before the Council on the 12th
of June.^ The Duke of Exeter, Lord Roos, Sir
Nicholas Langford, and others who were impli-
cated in these disorders, were, at the same time^
peremptorily commanded to appear before the
CoimciL^ Henry Holland, the young Duke of
Exeter, disgusted with the success of the Yorkists,
joined Lord Egremont in disturbing the Northern
districts : and in May, the Protector found it ex-
pedient to proceed against them, into Yorksliire>
in person^, where he was received with great re-
spect*, and remained until the middle of June.*
Exeter's misconduct was described in a letter dated
on the 3rd of June, in which he was charged with
having used the King's name in furtherance of his
designs without any authority, with exciting the
people by seditious language in the city of York,
and in letters to the inhabitants of Lancashire
1 p .178, pastea. 2 p. 179, postea.
^ See letters to Sir Thomas Stanley and Sir Thomas Harrington, dated
16th May 1454. p. ISO, postea.
-* p- 196, posted. * Paston Letters, vol. i. p. 77.
d 4
Ivi PREFACE-
S2Hen.vl. and Cheshire, with assembling anned men, with
riding with banners displayed "full outrageously
" and indiscreetly " against the Laws, and with
having irreverently snatched the King's letters from
the hands of his messenger. He was assured that
means would be found to punish him ; and he
was commanded to attend the Council on the
25th of the same month.^ Lord Egremont and
his brother, Richard Percy, and some of their
followers, were again rebuked, and ordered to ap-
pear on the same day, and not to break the peace
in the meantime.^ The Abbot of Hulme was
informed of Exeter's and Egremont's conduct, and
warned not to allow any assistance to be given
to them ^; and the latter, as hereditary Sheriff of
Westmoreland, was further directed to meet the
Duke of York with the posse comitatus.^ The
Mayors and Corporations of York and Hull received
the King's thanks for having resisted the insur-
gents, and for having received the Duke of York
with respect and cordiality ; and they were told,
that their behaviour was " to them a perpetual
" laud and commendation, and a noble mirror and
" gentle example to all true subjects."*
Exeter being driven from the North by the
Duke of York, took sanctuary in the Abbey of
Westminster^, from which, to the horror of the
1 pp. 189, 190, pasUa. ^ pp. 191, 192, postecu
3 pp.l9S, 194>, postea, ^ pp. 194, 195, posiea, ^ pp.196, 197, pastea.
^ Hall, p. 234. ^* It ifi said the Duke of Exeter is here oovertly. God
*' send him good counsel hereafter." Vide a letter in the Paston Corre-
PREFACE. Ivii
Abbot and Monks, he was taken by forceS and 32Hen.vi.
sent, as a prisoner, to Pomfret Castle, at the end
of July, in the custody of Sir Bryan Stapleton and
two other Knights*, the cause of which circum-
stances, in Exeter's life, has been hitherto un-
known.* Lord Egremont contrived, however, for
some time to elude all the efforts which were
made to reduce him to obedience; and he not
only refused to comply with the King's repeated
orders to appear and answer for his conduct, but
latterly kept out of the way of the bearers of
those commands. Strong measures, therefore, be-
came requisite ; and about this time, though the
exact date is not stated^, the Commons presented
a Bill to the Lords, which recited the misconduct
of Egremont and his brother, Kichard Percy, and
the necessity of punishing them for the sake of
example ; and Parliament enacted, that proclama-
tions should be issued in Yorkshire, commanding
spoodence (voL i. p. 77) from London. Another letter in the same
Collection (voL L p. 73) says, " as for tidings, my Lord of York hath
^* taken my Lord of Exeter into hb award. The Duke of Somerset
^ is still in prison in worse case than he was."
1 Stow's Annals, p. 400, where it is said, that this was done contrary to
an Older made in the preceding Parliament Stow, Fabian, and Hall
erroneously make Exeter's imprisonment at Pomfret subsequent to the
first batde of St Alban's; and they altogether omit to state that the
Duke of York was made Protector as well before as o/^ that battle.
« pp.217, 218, /xwfca.
* Dugdale's Baronage, vol. ii. p. 82.
* It must, however, have been after the 3rd of March 1452, as the
letters which were written to Egremont on that day are referred to in the
Act.
Iviii PREFACE.
32 Hen.vi. them to appear before the Lord Chancellor within
1454'. . .
a specified time, to give bail to keep the peace, or
be committed to prison ; and announcing that if
they did not so surrender themselves, they should
forfeit every thing they held under the King's
grants. Penalties were imposed upon their fol-
lowers, in case they continued with them ; and the
local influence which Egremont possessed is strongly
shewn, by the imposition of the enormous fine of
£2,000 upon the Sheriff of Yorkshire, in case he
omitted to make the said proclamations, and of the
same sum upon the keeper of any prison out of
which that nobleman, or his brother, might make
their escape.^
The statements of Fabian and other chroni-
clers, if correct in dates, shew that Egremont
was not subdued until two or three years after-
wards, as they say, under the 35th of Henry the
Sixth, 1456-1457, that in that year there was a
great fray in the North, between Lord ; Egremont
and the sons of the Earl of Salisbury, in which
many persons were wounded or slain ; but that in
the end Egremont was taken and adjudged to pay
considerable sums to the Earl of Salisbury; and
that being unable to do so, or to find security, he
was committed to Newgate, from whence, after
being some time confined, he and three others
made their escape by night, " to the great charge
" of the Sheriffs/'^ Stow adds, that Egremont's
1 Rot Pari., vol. v. p. 395.
2 Fabian, ed. 1811. p. 632; Chronicle of London, p. 139.
PREFACE. lix
brother, Richard Percy, made his escape at the 32 Hen.vi.
same time, and that they proceeded to the King/
It appears from the agreement between the
Yorkists and Lancastrian Lords, made by the
King in March, 36 Hen. VI. 1458, that Lord Egre-
mont and his brother had been condemned by
the Justices of Assize in Yorkshire, to pay 8,000
marks to the Earl of Salisbury, and 5,000 marks
to his wife ; to Sir Thomas Neville, their son, and
Matilda his wife, 2,000 marks ; and to Sir John
Neville, Salisbury's other son, 800 marks ; all
which payments were remitted by the said agree-
ment.^
The Duke of Somerset, who was sent to the
Tower in January, was then still a prisoner ; and
Air. Sharon Turner^, who has investigated the his-
tory of this period with great industry, states, that
he was arraigned in Parliament in this year by
the Duke of York. No notice of the circum-
stance occurs on the KoUs, which, however, prove
that Somerset was in confinement at the end of
February *; and the authority referred to for the
fact* seems to place it in the following year, when
York certainly did exhibit charges against him.
^ Stow, p. 402.
2 Rot Pat., 36 Hen. VI. part ii. m. 9. The instrument itself is printed
in Whethamstede^s Chronicle, p. 424.
' Ed. 4to., vol. iii.
4 Rot Pari., vol. v. p. 280. Somerset and Lord Cobham were then
exempted from the fine imposed upon peers for non-attendance in Par-
liament, because they were in prison.
^ Whethamstede, p. 349.
Ix PREFACE.
32 Hen.vi. At the suggestion of the Lords in Parliament, the
command of Calais, one great mark of political
power, was taken from Somerset and conferred
upon the Duke of York; but the latter made
various stipulations before he accepted it, and his
appointment was not completed until the 18th of
July.»
Though temporarily subdued, the Lancastrian
party were by no means deficient either in hopes
or courage. They had not only succeeded in
qualifying the power given to the Duke of York
by Parliament, but they even ventured to impeach
one of his friends, the Earl of Devon, of treason ;
and, though Devon was acquitted, the Protector
considered the charge to touch his own honor so
closely, as to induce him solemnly to deny the
imputation cast upon his loyalty, caUing God and
all the Saints of Heaven to witness his fidelity to
his Sovereign, and offering, as a Knight, to prove
his assertion in the field against any one, of suit-
able rank, who would dare to maintain the con-
trary. At his request, this declaration was made
a record of Parliament, the Lords having unani-
mously assured him that they were convinced of
his loyalty.^
The next effort made by the Lancastrians, was
to obtain the release of the Duke of Somerset
1 Rot. Pari., voL v. pp. 254-256 ; Fcedera, voL xi. p. S51. The Duke's
indentures with the King on that occasion are printed in pp. 199-206,
pasted.
2 Rot Pari., vol. v. pp. 249, 250.
PREFACE. Ixi
upon bail, which was debated in a Great Council 32 Hen.vi.
held on the 8th of July, pursuant to summonses
issued on the 29th of May.* Without directly
opposing the measure, it is evident, from the
Minutes of that meeting, that York was very un-
willing to accede to it. He, therefore, wished that
the Judges might be asked their opinion of its
legality ; and suggested that it was necessary for
their acquittal, and to prevent misrepresentation,
that, considering the weight and importance of the
matter, the sentiments of a greater number of
Lords than had then attended^, should be ascer-
tained* York concluded his remonstrance by de-
claring that he would not assent to Somerset's
release without the advice of the Judges, and the
knowledge and consent of such Peers as were
I This Great Council was ordered to meet on the 25th of June, in
consequence of the attempts made by the French upon Calais ; and it
was to deliberate ** concerning the defence of the Realm outward, and
" the restful and politique rule thereof inward." All the temporal and
spiritual peers (except abbots) and four knights were summoned to
attend it. (p. ISSjpogtetu) Some disturbances appear to have happened
in Buckinghamshire about that time, as Walter Duredent, sheriff of that
county, was eonunanded to appear before the Council on the 25th of June,
to answer such matters as should be declared unto him, upon pain of being
fined ^200. (p. 195,/NM^to.) Though unnoticed by historians, London
was raTSged by a seyere pestilence in September in this year. Neither
the Duke of York nor the Earl of Salisbury were then in the metropolis.
Paston Letters, voL i. p. 222.
2 About twenty-three Peers only were present The number of Peers
summoned to the preceding Parliament was as follows : two archbishops,
nineteen bishops, twenty-seyen abbots or priors, five dukes, twelve earls,
three viscounts, and thirty-six barons ; forming forty-eight spiritual, and
fifty-six temporal peers, and in all, one hundred and four.
Ixii PREFACE.
82 Hen. VI. absent ; and he desired that this his " advice, ex-
1454s
" hortation, and declaration " might be enacted in
that Council, to remain of record for his acquittal,
and be exemplified under the Great and Privy Seal.^
About that time, the Duke of York, with the
view of increasing his influence, procured the
authority of the Council to give the King's livery
of Collars to eighty gentlemen whom he might
select, all of whom were to swear not to be re-
tained by any person except with the King's spe-
cial licence.^
The advice of the Duke of York, to refer the
question respecting Somerset's enlargement to a
full meeting of the Great Council, was adopted ;
and on the 24th of July that body was ordered
to assemble on the 21st of October ensuing.®
Fourteen Bishops, two Dukes, eight Earls, and
seventeen Barons were summoned to attend it, in
the usual terms ; but, in consequence of the non-
attendance of the Bishop of St. David's, the Earl
of Shrewsbury, Lord Berkeley, and ten other
Barons, letters of a more peremptory nature were
sent to them, telling them that if they did not
attend on that occasion measures would be taken
to compel them to do so.*
> pp. 206, 207, postea. 2 p. 209, postea.
3 << There to proceed to good conclusion, with the grace of God, in such
<< matters as we called now late our said Great Council for, the which
*< be of right great charge and poise, sitting us full nigh to heart" p. 215^
postecu
* pp. 216, 217, posiea.
PREFACE. Ixiii
In the meantime Somerset continued a pri- 32 Heu.vi.
soner ; and it appears, from a letter dated on the
28th of July, that his principal accuser was the
Duke of Norfolk. A long statement on the subject,
addressed by Norfolk either to the Privy Council
or to the Lords in Parliament, is printed in
the Paston Correspondence^ wherein he charged
Somerset with having usurped undue authority,
and been the cause of the loss of Normandy and
Guienne ; and complained that justice had not
been done on the occasion. Norfolk was ordered
to appear before the Council on the 28th of Oc-
tober, to substantiate his charges ; and so to de-
mean himself in the interval, that the public peace
might not be disturbed by his followers or him-
self.^ Nothing more occurs in the article printed
in this volume on the subject. The Duke of
Somerset remained in the Tower until February in
the following year, when he was brought before the
Council and admitted to bail, afler a confinement,
Bs he himself stated, of one year and upwards of
ten weeks.® The Duke of York was present on
1 yoL liL p. lOSy ei seq. ^ pp. 218, 219, postea,
s Pcedera, ToL xi. p. 361. The following curious document, respect-
ing tiie Duke of Somerset's imprisonment in 1454«, occurs among
Stow's Collections in the Harleian MS. 543, f. 161. It appears that the
King of Scotland, Somerset's nephew, had sent a messenger to him to
inquire the cause of his arrest, and that the Duke's answer had given
great offence to the Council.
** AwswER OF THE Duke of Somerset to his credence to hym sent
** BY THE KiNGE OF ScOTS.
*' As to the credence sent by the Kynge of Scotts to me the Duke of
** Somarset, which is upon two poynts, the tone towchinge the Kyngs
Ixiv PREFACE.
32Hen.vi. the occasion, and probably yielded a reluctant
assent to a measure which he no longer had it
in his power to prevent.
<< highnese, to whiche, thowghe I were as at greate fredome as evar I
was, I would not take upon me to aunswere without the Kyugs
comaundement, or by the advice of his Counseyle ; but as towchinge
**• to the othar, towching my selfe, undar correction, yet might be by
^' me aunswered in the forme that folowithe. First, that I thanke the
" Kynge of Scotts right hartely of the good love and affection that he
** hathe to me his uncle, as nature will that he shulde. Notwithstondinge,
** as for my beinge in the Tower of London, it was done by thadvyse of
*^ the lords of the Kyngs Counseyle, which, as I undarstand, was moaste
*< for the swertye of my person ; and what so evar moved them so for to
" doo, if I were alied unto all the Kyngs xp'ened as nighe as I am to
" the sayde Kynge of Scotts, nor my will nor entent is nor evar was
'' to desire nor assent to aske ne to have any helpe by might of them
" into thb realme ; for I have moche more trust in my trwthe and the
** rightwysnes of my sovereigne lord and the lords of the land than I
<< could have of any might inward, and specially outward, thowghe I
** were allied as before is sayde.
'< Memorandum. That in no wyse the Lords gyve theyr advyse or
*< assent to any aunswere to be gyven by the Duke of Somarset unto
the Kynge of Scotts upon his credence to the same Duke, ministred
by Ser James Stewarde, sith that the seyde credence came uonly unto
hym, wherin any othar lord hath none enteresse ne nat owe to enter-
" mell thereof.
" It'm, where the sayd Duke, amonge othar things conseyved in a
'' cedule by hym made conseminge his aunswere to the sayde credence,
" it is conteyned, that hb beinge in the Toure of London was done by
" thadvyce of the Lords of the Kyngs Counseyle, which, as he under*
'' stondithe, was moste for the surtie of his person, he there of dis-
** clanderithe and blasphemith the sayde lords, which of an hoole assent
" and auctoritie comytted him to the seyde Toure for suspetion of treasoDy
« as by the acte there upon made it may appeare.
<* And to thentent that thambiguitie and dowghte beinge amonge the
" people whithar the seyd Duke was comytted to the seyd Towar for
" the surtye onely of his person, or the seyde suspection may be
'* removed, it is right necessarye that the sayde acte be without delay
U
i(
PREFACE. Ixv
A few misceUaneous Proceedings of the Coun- ^^ Hen.vi.
cil, in the 32nd of Henry the Sixth, remain to be
pointed out. From the unwillingness of many of
the Lords to attend Parliament, when the powers
of the Crown were vested in the Duke of York,
an ordinance was passed on the 29th of February
1452, imposing a fine of from jC40 to JCIOO, ac-
cording to their rank, upon every absentee, except
m cases of age or sickness, when the Council was
authorized to mitigate the penalties at its discre-
tion ; and the fines so imposed were to be appro-
priated to the defence of Calais*^ Certain Lords
were exempted from the penalty on account of
being absent in the King's service abroad, or
attached to his person during his illness, and two,
because they were in prison. Pursuant to this
Act, the Council examined the aUegations of age
or infirmity made by the Bishops of Exeter, Bath,
and Hochester, the Earl of Westmoreland, five
Abbots, and by the Lords Grey of Groby, Hunger-
'* eafled and red before the sayde Lords, and opened where it owght to
" be opened, to thentent that the comyttynge of the seyde Duke to the
*< seyde Toure be not noysed unlawfully uppon the sayde Lords as in
** Btrange lands, nor that it be layde uppon them in burden or charge
** at eny tyme here aftar.
** It'm, that in all wise the seyde credence be efte sones reported
** before aH the sayde Lords, by suche of them as were assigned to here
« the opeoinge thereof, to the seyde Duke by the sayd Sit James ; and
«< the same credence ceriously put in writynge by the Clarke of the
** Parliament, to thende and affecte that, yf it be otharwyse reported to
«< have be seyde then it was in dede to the charge of eny person, it may
^ appeare of record suche as it is of truthe.**
1 Rot Parl^ ToL y. p. 248.
VOL. VI. e
]xvi PREFACE.
S2 Hen.VL ford, Sctope of Masham, Zouche, Lovell, and Hoo
1454. ,
and Hastings ; and, on finding them to be true,
fixed their fines at fi-om £10 to £50 each.^ Lord
Say, who had been unjustly amerced, was excused
fi*om paying the fine, because he had, in fact, been
present in Parliament within the specified time.^
Kalph Lord Cromwell, who had exhibited arti-
cles of the peace against the Duke of Exeter at the
commencement of the session^ presented a petition
to the Council in July, stating that a priest of the
name of Robert Colynson* was at that time in
the Marshalsea, for having falsely slandered him ;
and he prayed that the Justices of the King's
Bench might be ordered to detain Colynson in
prison, until he had satisfied him for the damages
he had suffered fi-om his conduct, and paid the
fines due to the King; with which the Council
complied,^
In May a petition was presented to the Coun-
cil by the Duke of Norfolk, stating, that at the
election of Knights of the Shire for Suffolk in the
preceding February, many of his servants and
tenants attended to give their votes, but that the
1 pp. 181, 182, posted. 2 pp. 187, 188, postea.
8 Rot Pari., voL v. p. 264.
4 Vide Rot. Pat. 31 Hen. VI. m. 16. for the proceedings in this matter.
Colynson was probably the person, who is thus mentioned in a letter
in the Paston Correspondence,* written in July, in or about this year z
«* The priest that accused Lords Cromwell, Grey, and my master (Sir
<< John Fastolf) will confess who caused him to do it, so that he may
« have hb life." Vol. iii. p. 129.
^ ^.I99y pastea.
PREFACE. Ixvii
"Sheriff, wishing ** to make Knights of the Shire S2 Hen.vi.
*' after his own intent, and for his singular
*' cx)vetise," and to injure the Duke's retainers,
had charged them, in the Court of Exchequer,
with having impeded the election, and by threats
and menaces prevented his officers from perform-
ing their duty. The Duke said these accusations
were totally unfounded, and he requested that the
parties against whom they were brought might be
allowed to answer by attorney.^ It must be ob-
served, that this complaint came with rather an ill
grace from a nobleman who had frequently inter-
fered in such matters, and who had shewn consi-
derable displeasure whenever his nominees were
not chosen, or when any attempt was made to
prevent their election.^
It unfortunately happens that the few extant 33 Hen.vi.
Proceedings of the Council in the 33rd of Henry ^*^*'
the Sixth, throw little light upon the important
events of that year. The King recovered his
health and reason about Christmas 1454^ and soon
afterwards resumed the exercise of the Royal
authority. The Protectorate was terminated in 1455.
January, and the Duke of Somerset was released
1 pp.183, ISif, pastea.
3 See the Paston Correspondence, vol. i. p. 97, and vol. iii. p. 241. An
instance of the Duke of York's interference in elections occurs in vol. i.
p. 99, of the same collection ; and the interest which was then felt on
those occasions is shewn by letters in voLiii. pp. 153} 159.
^ Paston Letters, voL L p. 80.
e 2
Ixviii PREFACE.
33 Hen.VL from the Tower, on bail S upon the 7th of February
1455; but in March his recognizances were dis-
charged upon his petition, in which he stated that
he had been imprisoned " without any reasonable
" ground or lawful process."^
No sooner had the Queen's party recovered
power, than the friends of the Duke of York were
removed from their offices* Salisbury was suc-
ceeded by the Bishop of Winchester as Lord Chan-
cellor, and the Earl of Shrewsbury became Lord
High Treasurer. On the 4th of March the King,
to avoid dissensions, took the Captaincy of Calais
into his own hands ®; and he induced York and
Somerset to consent that their quarrel should be
settled by arbitration in the following June*
Before that time arrived, however, the Yorkists
again took arms; and having defeated the Lan-
castrians in the battle of St. Alban's, on the
22nd of May^ wherein the Duke of Somerset
was slain, York regained his influence, and the
King was obliged publicly to approve of his con-
duct, and to entrust the sole direction of affairs
to his hands. Parliament having been summoned
to meet on the 9th of July, the Gk)vemment
apprehending a collision between the Lords of the
two factions, wisely commanded its own supporters
1 Foedera, vol xi. p. 361. < Ibid. p. 362*
» Ibid, p, 363. * Ibid, pp, 362, 363.
^ A very interesting account of this battle, and of many events in 1454*
and 1455> will be found in the Paston Correspondence, vol. L pp. 80>
100,104.118; and vol. iii. pp. 220-250.
PREFACE. Ixix
to attend with no other followers than their 33Hen.vi.
household servants, so that the Lancastrians might
not have any excuse for acting in a different
manner.^ In that Parliament the Duke of York
and his adherents were fully exonerated from all
blame, as well for the battle of St Alban's, as for
their previous and subsequent proceedings.^ On
the 24th of Jidy, York, Salisbury, and all the other
LiOrds then present, solemnly swore allegiance to
the King, and to defend his person and authority,
which oath was ordered " to be enacted in the
^ Parliament Roll, and also to be written and in-?
" corporate in the Book of the Council^ there to
^ remain of record among other acts and ordi-
" nances/'^ It is much to be lamented that the
" Eook of the Council" thus referred to no longer
exists; for with it have, undoubtedly, perished
many of the most important historical records of
Henry the Sixth's eventful reign.
Parliament was prorogued on the 31st of July
to the 12th of November following*; but before
adverting to what then took place, or to the cir-
cumstances which led to it, such of the Proceed-
ings of the Council in the 33rd of Henry the
Sixth as are interesting, will be pointed out. In
November 1454, regulations were adopted, by a
Great Council, for reducing the number of ser-
vants of the Royal household, and for placing it on
1 |»p. 244, 24% pasiea. ^ Rot Pari., vol. v. pp. 280, 282.
» Md, pp. 282, 283. 4 Itid, p. 283.
e 3
Ixx PREFACE,
33 Hen.vi, the 3ame establishment as in the time of Henry
the Fifth. ^ The Duke of Exeter, who appears to
have been committed to Wallingford Castle in
February 1455, and to have been still a prisoner
there in the following June^ is, however, stated to
have been conducted to the King's presence, from,
Pomfret Castle, about the middle of March in that
yean^ In May, Commissioners were appointed
throughout the realm to raise money for the de-
fence of Calais, which was then menaced with a
siege ; and they were instructed to urge the impor-
tance of that " rare jewel for England'' by every
argument they could devise/
It having been supposed that undue influence
was about to be used in the election of Knights of
the Shire for Kent, at which the King is stated to
" marvail greatly, inasmuch as it is nothing to the
*' honour of the labourers, but against their wor-
" ship, and against the laws of the land and ordi-
" nances made in that behalf," the Sheriff was
directed to proclaim the King's commands, that
the county should have " their free election," and
that whosoever interfered therewith would incur his
grievous displeasure. The Sheriff was also ordered
to take care that the peace was kept during the
election, and immediately to acquaint the Council
with the name of any one who might break it.^
1 pp. 200, 203, postea. ^ pp. 234, 246, pottecu
8 Fcedera, vol. xi. p. 365. ^ pp. 234, 244, po^m.
^ pp. 246, 247, posted. Riots had also taken place at the election for
Cambridge about this time. Vide p. 335, postea.
The fear of riots was justified by the state of 5S Hen.vi.
Derbyshire, where tumultuous assemblies existed,
the leaders of which were Sir John Gresley,
Nicholas Gresley, and floger Vernon, all of whom
were ordered to appear before the Council in July,
to answer for their conduct.^
The success of the Yorkists having excited the
anger of James the Second of Scotland, instead of
dispatching the embassy which he intended to
send to this country, he attacked Berwick at the
end of June or early in July, with the hope of
takmg it by surprize ; but finding the garrison pre-
pared, he abandoned the attempt.^ Letters were
written, on the 9th of July, to the Bishop of Dur-
ham, the Earl of Northumberland, and the Lords
Fitz Hugh and Scrope, Sir John Heron, and Robert
Manners, Esquire, thanking them, in the warmest
terms, for their services on the occasion. It is a
remarkable proof of the rigorous manner in which
the presence of Peers in Parliament was then
exacted, and of their reluctance to attend, that
Northumberland was exempted from appearing in
the Parliament which was at that time sitting, as
a reward for the zeal he had shewn in repelling
the Scots. ^
Only two articles in this year relating to
Foreign afiairs have been found. On the 25th of
1 pp. 25Q» 25lyposiecu
2 Piiikertoii's Hifitory of Scotland, voL i. pp. 232, 233 ; and the Ap-
peDdbc thereto, p. 487.
3. pp. 2*7, 250, j)Qsie(K
e 4
Ixxii PREFACE.
33 Heii.vi. July a complaint was made to the Duchess of Bur-
gundy, that in contravention of the treaties be-
tween the two countries, one of her subjects had
seized and imprisoned the agent of the Mayor of
the staple of Calais, until he surrendered certain
money and goods ; and restitution was demanded
of that person and all his effects.^
Alphonso King of Portugal having sent a
mission to this country with letters, requesting that
some infractions of the treaties between the two
Kingdoms, might be repaired, and the aggressors
punished, was told, in August, that Henry had
appointed persons to confer with his envoys, that
his wishes should be complied with, and that every
thing which was in Henry's power to maintain the
peace should be performed.^ That the assurances
of friendship then made to Alphonso were sincere,
appears from the &ct, that he had been elected
into the Order of the Garter ; and his robes were
directed to be sent to him in November in this
year.*
34 Hen.vi. In cousequeuce of the King having relapsed
into his former iUness in the summer of 1455*,
power was given to the Duke of York, on the
1 pp. 253, 254, postea. 3 pp. 257-258, pasiea.
3 Foedera, vol. xi. p. 368.
4 On the 5th of June 1455, Kemer, dean of Salisbury, an ** expert^
*< notable, and proved man in the craft of medicine," was [commanded
to attend the King at Windsor, who was then, *^ as Kemer well knew/'
labouring under ** sickness and infirmityes.'' Foedera, vol. xL p. 366.
PREFACE. Ixxui
10th of November in that year, to hold the Par- 34 Hen.vi.
liament which was then about to assemble ; and,
with the assent of the Council, to dissolve it.
The Minute of the determination of the King,
with the advice of the Council and of the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal on that subject, is the
earliest Proceeding of the Privy Council in the
34th of Henry the Sixth recorded in this volume.^
Immediately after Parliament had assembled, a
general pardon of all treasons and other offences
committed since the 9th of the preceding July was
declared*; and on the 11th of November the Com-
mons, who had twice before agitated the question,
stated numerous reasons to the Liords, to shew the
necessity of re-appointing a Protector of the Kealm*
The Lords answered, that the King, with their con-
sent, had named the Duke of York for that office,
who accepted it upon certain terms. One of those
conditions was, that as some Members of the Privy
Council had not theretofore attended as diligently
as they ought to have done, from which neglect
many af&irs had been ** thrown into great and
*^ jeopardous omission, not executed," Parliament
should appoint a proper number of Peers, Members
of the Council, " not of favor nor affection, but
*^ such as be approved of virtuous and righteous
" disposition, of reason, wisdom, and indifferency,
" and as will apply them to the tenderness and
" good zeal of the honor and profit of our said
pp, 261, 262, postea. 2 Rot ParL, vol. ▼. pp. 283, 284-.
IxxW PREFACE,
54 Hen.VL " Sovereign Lord, and the good publique of his
^ " « gaid land and people ; throwing therefore out of
« their minds and remembrances the favor and
" affection of all other things, and the dread and
" nighness of any other person earthly/'^
The Duke of York was appointed Protector and
Defender of the Kealm for the second time on the
19th of November 1455^ J but on the 22nd of the same
month the King committed the whole management
of affairs to the Privy Council, of which York was,
as before, the "Chief®,'' with a proviso, that in every
thing relating to his Majesty's honor and dignity,
or to the safety of his person, they should inform
him " of what direction they take on them." All
the Members of the Council, after protesting that
^* the high prerogiative, pre-eminence, and autho-
" rity of his Majesty Royal, and also the Sove-
" reignty of them and all this land, is and always
" must rest and shall rest in his most excellent
" person," promised implicit obedience to his com-
mands, and to do every thing to advance his
" high prerogative, pre-eminence, and authority,'*
" his high regalie and honorable estate and wel-^
" fare, and the felicity and surety of his person,
" and also to the publique rule and government
" of his land and of his subjects, as fully as ever
" did any Councillors or subjects to their Sove-
*' reign/'*
1 Rot. Parl^ vol.y. p. 286. 2 /^^ pp. 287-289 ; Fcedera, vol xL p. 369.
3 Rot Pari., voL v. p. 288. * IbidL pp. 289, 290.
PREFACE, Ixxv
The style of these proceedings tends to s4Hen.Vl.
shew, that although Henry might not then have
been in perfect health, he was not so wholly in-
capable of attending to public business as during
bis former illness. After declaring his son, the
young Edward, to be Prince of Wales and Duke of
Cornwall, and passing an Act of resumption of all
grants made since the first year of his reign, Par-
L'ament was prorogued on the 13th of December,
to the 14th of January following, one cause of
which was said to be, that the Duke of York was
about to proceed into the West, to suppress some
riots and disturbances which had led to murders
and various other crimes.^ Parliament appears to 1456.
have met in January 1456, and on the 25th of
February in that year the Protectorate ceased^
the King being again restored to health.
Great difliculty was then found to induce per-
sons who were appointed Sheriffs to execute the
office.^ Sir John Tempest, the Sheriff of Lincoln-
shire, having positively refused to perform the duties
unless he was guaranteed against loss, the Council
were obliged, in November 1455, to make an
1 Rot. PaiL, voL ▼• p. 321.
2 Jind. pp. 321, 322 ; Foedera, voL xL p. 373.
3 See also the Proceedings of the Council respecting the Sheriff of
Lincolnshire, in March, 34 Hen.VI. 1456, pp. 331, 332, postea. It like*
wise appears, from a Letter Missive in the Tower, that the King having
been requested to excuse John Botreaux from serving as Sheriff of
CoiTiwall, his Majesty informed the Chancellor, that he <* would not
** change him or any other."
ixxvi PREFACE.
S4Hen.vi. arrangement to that effect^; but Hugh Lowther,
who had shewn some unwillingness to accept
the Shrievalty of Cumberland, was peremptorily
commanded to act, upon pain of being fined
jG2,000, as the King would " in no wise admit any
" excusation."^ As shewing the disturbed state
of the country about this period, and the onerous
duties and expences of Sheriffs, the petition of
John Stanhope, who had been Sheriff of Notting-
ham and Derby, merits attention. He stated, that
but for the grace of the Crown in remitting pay-
ments due by his predecessors, they must have
been ruined ; and he prayed for a similar indul-
gence, on the grounds that he had been put to
great expence in ** gathering and taking with him
" great numbers of people, at his own costs, to
** come to the sessions of Oyer and Terminer held
^* at Chesterfield and Derby ; in divers times
^ coming with mueh people to hold your Shires,
<* to resist such people as was not well disposed,
" and in riding with much people, on his own
" costs, in executing of his office, because the
" people is wild ; also in assembling 300 persons,
" by virtue of letters of Privy Seal, for the rescue
" of Berwick," and for other purposes.^
The influence of the Nevilles was shewn in a
remarkable manner about this period, notwith-
standing the Earl of Salisbury was no longer Chan-
1 pp. 263, 264s 272, 275, poftea. 3 pp. 271, 272, pogua.
3 pp. 272, 273, poHea.
PREFACE. Ixxvii
cellor. At the promotion of Bishops in April 1454, S4 Hcn.VL
it was stipulated by the Council, that on the next
vacancy the EarFs son, Greorge Neville, should
be raised to that dignity,^ The See of Exeter
became vacant in September in this year, when,
from forgetfulness of the arrangement, John Hals
was reconmiended by the King, and promoted by
the Pope, to that diocese. It would, however,
appear that Salisbury remonstrated strongly against
the violation of the promise which had been made
to his son; for in December 1455 a letter was
written, in the King's name, to the Pontiff, and
signed by the Council, stating the claims of " his
" cousin," George Neville, and that at the instance
of the Princes, Peers, and the whole Commonalty
of the Kealm, he had promised him the next
vacant See, but had forgotten it when Hals, Arch-
deacon of Norwich, was recommended for it ; that
Neville had been unanimously elected by the
Canons of Exeter to be their pastor ; that Hals,
from regard to the honor of that Church, and for
the tranquillity of the Realm, had relinquished his
promotion ; and his Majesty therefore prayed his
Holiness to confirm Neville's election. The Pope
complied with Henry's request ; for Neville, who
seems to have possessed eminent abilities, became
Bishop of Exeter in March following^, and in 1459
Hals was made Bishop of Lichfield.
One among the reasons assigned by the Com-
> pp. liy lii, antea ; p. 168, postm. ^ Foedera, vol. xi. p. 376.
Ixxviii PREFACE.
•S4 Hen.vi. mons for reviving the office of Protector was, that
^^^^' serious riots had taken place at Exeter, the Earl of
s
Devon, with eight hundred horsemen and four
thousand footmen, having robbed the Church in
that city, put the canons and some country gentle-
men to ransom, and committed many other great
and heinous offences.^ These disturbances are
probably the same as are mentioned in a Letter
from a contemporary, wherein it is said that they
arose out of a quarrel between the Earl of Devon
and Lord Bonville.* The tumults having assumed
a serious character, the Duke of York was sent
into the West to restore tranquillity ; and on the
5th of December, letters were written to the Earls
of Arundel and Wiltshire, the Lords Fitzwarine,
St. Amand, and six other Lords, one of whom was
Ijord Bonville, stating the existence of the disturb-
ance^ and the intention of the Duke of York to
proceed in person against the rioters ; adding, that
as the affiiir was of great consequence, it was re-
quisite that the Duke should be properly attended
by Lords and other persons of rank, for which
reasons the Lords above named were appointed
Commissioners for the suppression of those out-
rages.^ Several Knights and Esquires of Devon-
shire were directed to afford every assistance in
their power to the Duke of York and the Com-
1 Rot ParL, vol. v. p. 285,
2 Dated on St Simon and St Jude's day (28th October), and assigned
to the year 1455. Paston Correspondence, voL i. pp. 117> 118.
3 pp. 267-269, pagiea.
PREFACE. Ixxix
missioners.^ About this time the Commons peti- S4 Hen.Vl.
tioned the King in Parliament, stating that rob- ^*^^
beries and murders had occurred in Cornwall,
Devonshire, and Somersetshire, between the re-
spective adherents of the Earl of Devon and Lord
Bonville; and praying that, until a Commission
had inquired into the matter, it might be enacted
that Devon and Bonville should both be com-
mitted to prison without bail or mainprize, and
that the Sheriff of Devonshire, who was suspected
of favoring Lord Bonville, should be forbidden to
interfere with the processes of the said Commis-
sion ; but the King refused his consent to the
BiU.*
The Minute of the Council of the 11th of
December, empowering the Duke of York to pro-
rogue Parliament, is remarkable from one of the
members of the Council having signed it by
proxy ; at least, such is presumed to be the im-
port of the signature, of which a facsimile is
given.^ Letters were sent to several Peers in De-
cember, strictly enjoining them to attend the Par-
liament which was to assemble in January 1456*;
and those letters, which are both admonitory and
threatening, are additional evidence of the extreme
difficulty of inducing Peers to perform their Par-
liamentary duties. The only other article of the 1456.
34th of Henry the Sixth, which remains to be
1 pp. 269-271, pastea. 3 Rot ParL, vol. v. p. 332.
« p. 275, posUa. 4 pp. 279, 280, paHecu
Ixxx PREFACE.
S4Heii.VL noticed, is a letter, dated on the 8th of June 1456,
to certain Knights and Esquires of Kent, directing
them to attend a Commission of Oyer and Ter-
miner, consisting of several Peers, the Judges, and
others, which was to sit at Maidstone for the
trial of persons who had committed riots in that
county.^
35 Hen.vi. Two unimportant Proceedings of the Council ^
are all which have been found relating to the
35th of Henry the Sixth ; and though the public
instruments printed by Rymer, are far from nu-
merous, the deficiency of information of public
events of that year is, fortunately, supplied by the
correspondence of the Paston family.^ The most
remarkable transaction was the removal of the
Duke of York's friends from the Offices of State
in October 1456 ; the Bishop of Winchester having
succeeded the Earl of Salisbury as Chancellor on
the 11th of that month*, and the Earl of Shrews-
bury being soon afterwards made Treasurer of
England.*
s^ ?^^^' The very few Proceedings of the Council in
the 36th of Henry the Sixth which now remain,
are scarcely deserving of notice in this place. On
•
» pp. 287, 289, posiea. 2 pp. 290, SS3, postea.
» Vide the Paston Letters, voL i. pp. 132-135 ; and p. 24, between May
and October 1456 ; (the letter in which page is erroneously assigned
to the 18th of October 1449 instead of 1456.)
4 p. 360, poitea. * Rot Pat. 35 Hen. VT. part I. m. 16.
PREFACE. ]xxxi
the 29th of November a Great Council was sum- ae Hen-Vi.
14J5*7
moned to meet at Westminster, on the 27th of
Januaij in the ensuing year, which was to deter-
mine yarious important affairs that had been dis*
cussed, but not settled, in a similar assembly lately
held, and which the King had attended in person.
The Peers were informed that his Majesty " would
" have none excused of his coming to the said
" Council in any wise that oweth to be there."^
As the Earl of Arundel did not attend, a letter
was written to him on the 14th of February 1458, 1*58.
informing him that the Great Council was sitting,
that the King expected he would have been pre-
sent before that time, considering the great causes
for which the Council was called, " in especial to
" set apart such variances as ben betwixt divers
" Lords of this our realm ; and, blessed be Jehu,
" there is such diligence done in that behalf,
" that we doubt not but the said variance shall
** take fruitful conclusion, as we will in all wise
" that they so do ;" but as Arundel was " a great
" Lord" his presence was necessary, and he was
therefore peremptorily ordered to appear.^
Henry's expectations of forming an amicable
arrangement between his discordant Peers were
realized ; and on the 4th of March the terms of
agreement were drawn up in a solemn instrument^
I pp. 290, 293, postea. 2 pp. 293, 294-, postea.
» It is printed at length in Whethamstede's Chronicle, pp. 41 8-428 ;
vide also Fabian, p. 632. Both the Yorkists and Lancastrian Pee»
VOL. VI, f
Ixxxii PREFACE.
S6 HenVi. to which the Great Seal was affixed. A procession,
consisting of the King, Queen, and Peers, to
St. Paul's gave dignity and publicity to the recon-
ciliation ^; and such poets as England could then
produce, celebrated the event in rhyme.^ But the
hope of permanent tranquillity proved fallacious.
The real causes of the hatred of the two factions
was of a nature which could only be removed by
the total subjugation of one of them ; and they
both availed themselves of the calm to prepare for
more vigorous proceedings.
In March 1458, the Council was obliged to
take measures for resisting the French fleet, which
had put to sea, and was on the North coast of
England; and five hundred pounds were, there-
fore, granted to the Earl of Warwick for the equip-
ment of a fleet to meet the enemy.* His engage-
ment with a very superior force of Spaniards and
Genoese, near Calais, on the 29th of May in this
year, when, after displaying great gallantry, the
attended the meeting with large retinues, York having 140 horsemen,
and Salisbury 400, of which number there -were 80 knights and esquires.
The Duke of Somerset (the son of York's former rival) was attended hj
200 horsemen. The Duke of Exeter and the Earl of Warwick had not
arrived on the 1st of February. Exeter was much displeased that
Warwick should hold the office of Captain of Calais, and have had the
*^ keeping of the sea." See a letter in the Paston Correspondence, voL i.
pp. 150, 151, 156-
1 Paston Letters, voLi. p. 154.
2 Cottonian MS., Vespasian, B. xvi., printed by Mr. Sharon Turner,
vol. iiL p. 269» and another copy in the Cottonian MS., Nero, A. Ti.
printed literally in the Chronicle of London, p. 251.
3 p. 295, poiUa.
PREFACE. Ixxxiii
JBnglish were defeated, is matter of history ^; and 86 Hcn.vi.
a full account of the battle, by a person who was
present, is preserved,^ .
All the Lords of the Council, which then
consisted of thirty4;hree persons, namely, the two
Ardibishops ; seven Bishops ; the Dukes of York,
Buckingham, and Norfolk ; the Earls of Warwick,
Salisbury, Shrewsbury, and Wiltshire; the Vis-
counts Beaumont and Bourchier ; the Prior of
St John's ; the Lords Grey of Ruthyn, Welles,
Scales, Sudeley, Fauconberg, Dudley, Rivers, Beau-
champ, Stourton, and Stanley ; Sir John Wenlok ;
the Dean of St Severins, and John Say, were
ordered, on the 26th of August, to meet on the
1 1th of October 1458, by letters which stated,
that though it was their duty to attend in Term
time, yet, that they were thus specially summoned
for matters " concerning specially our honor and
^ worship, and the welfare of this our land and
« subjects."^
The only Proceedings of the Council of the 37 Hen.vi.
_ , 1459
thirty-seventh year of Henry the Sixth, which
have been discovered, are unimportant. A Great
Council was summoned to meet at Westminster
on the 2nd of April 1459, to deliberate, among
other matters, on sending an embassy to a
Council and assembly of Princes, appointed by
I Fabian, 633 ; Whethamstede, 4f 7 ; Foedera, vol. xi. p. 415.
3 Paston Letten, vol. i. pp. 15S*160. ' p. 297s postea.
f 2
Ixxxiv PREFACE;
S7Hen.VL the Pope to meet on the 1st of June following,
for the defence of the Christian faith against the
Turks and other infidels^; and the Bishop and
Earl of Worcester, the Abbot of Peterborough,
Lord Dudley, and Sir Philip Wentworth and
others were selected for that mission.^ In con-
sequence of the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem,
who was a Peer of the English Parliament, having
been summoned by the Grand Master of the Order
to attend a Chapter at Khodes in October, a letter
was written to that personage, by the King, stating
that he would not allow the Prior to leave Eng-
land on account of his age and infirmities, and of
the necessity of his presence for his Majesty's
service. The Castellain and other English mem-
bers of the Order were informed of the Prior's
anxious desire to obey the Grand Master's com-
mands, notwithstanding his inability to perform
so long a journey, and of Henry's having for-
bidden him to undertake it ; and they were more-
over strictly forbidden, as the King's true subjects,
to give their consent to any grant or charge which
the Chapter might impose, if it were prejudicial
to the laws of this country, on pain of such punish-
ment as should be an example to others.^
38 Hen.vi. It is much to be regretted that none of the
Proceedings of the Council throw any light upon
the political struggles of the. year 1459, the first
■' '■ Mil ■■ ■■■ ■■■-■■-» ■ I , «, ■ ■ ■»...,
1 J). 298, postea. 2 p. 202, postea, ^ pp. 299-301 , past&h
1460.
PREFACE. IxXXV
document in this volume, belonging to the 38th of 38 Hen.vi.
Henry the Sixth, being subsequent to the battle of ^*^*
Northampton, in July 1460, when the Yorkists
once more obtained the direction of affairs. On
the 9th of August in that year, the Captains of
several Castles in Wales were ordered to defend
their fortresses against the rioters who were ex-
pected to attack them ; to allow no persons to
enter or fortify them ; and to deliver possession of
them to no one, unless they received special in-
structions from the King.
Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, Henry's
aterine brother, the Captain of Denbigh Castle^
and Roger Puleston, his Deputy, were both in-
formed, on that occasion, that the King then
considered the Duke of York, who had been
attainted of high treason, in the Parliament holden
at Coventry, in November 1459, to be his *' ap-
" proved and true liege man, and no traitor,"
his " true subject, and no rebel," his " right faith-
" fid friend, and none enemy ;" and that the pro-
ceedings against him had been instigated " only by
" crael and malicious exhortation of his mortal
" enemies," as it appeared by proclamations lately
made throughout England and Wales ; and they
were commanded to deliver Denbigh Castle into
the hands of the Duke's deputy. Lord Powis
was, at the same time, ordered to surrender the
custody of Montgomery Castle.^ New efforts were
> PP.. 303, 304, jMWteo.
f 8
Ixxxvi PREFACE.
38Hen.vi, made by the Council to suppress the riots in
^^^' Wales ; and on the 17th of August, authority was
given to Sir William Herbert, Walter Devereux*
and Roger Vaughan, Esquires, to take the neces-
sary measures for that purpose. They were com-
manded to arrest the ringleaders and detain them
in prison, unless they could be safely sent to the
King; and to take possession of all castles and
other fortified places.®
The only other Proceeding of the Council in
the 38th of Henry the Sixth, which has been
found, related to Sir John Neville, the son of the
Earl of Salisbury, and brother of the Bishop of
Exeter.^ Sir John Neville, like the rest of his
family, was attainted by the Parliament which
met at Coventry in November 1459 ; but, without
waiting for the meeting of the next Parliament to
reverse that attainder, the King restored Neville
and his wife to their estates, probably by virtue of
1 The confidence thus shewn to Devereux by the Yorkists, after their
return to power, is deserving of notice. After the flight of the Yorkists
at Ludiford, in October 1459, Lord Powis, Sir Henry Retford, and
Walter Devereux, esquire, threw themselves on the King's mercy, wha
promised them their lives, but reserved the forfeiture of their property.
(Rot. Pari., vol. v. p. 349 ; Whethamstede, p. 473.) They were accord-
ingly included in the sweeping act of attainder, passed in November
1459; but when the King gave his assent to that act, he refused to agree
to so much of it as concerned Lord Powis and Devereux. (Rot. Pari.,
voL V. p. 350.) Though Devereux was placed in a post of importance
by the Yorkists, Lord Powis, who was similarly circumstanced, was
removed by them from the command of Montgomery Castle.
2 pp. 304, 305, posted.
3 The Bishop of Exeter was appointed Chancellor in the preceding July>
immediately afler the government fell into the hands of the Yorkists.
PREFACE. Ixxxvii
the power which was specially reserved to the King, 38 Hen,VL
when he assented to the Act of attainder of the
Yorkists on that occasion, that it should not affect
his Prerogative " to shew such mercy and grace as
« might please him."*
«
Nothing has been ascertained of the Proceed- ^^ i^?'^
ings of the Council in the last year of the reign of
King Henry the Sixth, except a few Letters which
were sent to the Earl of Arundel, the Lords Dacre^
Delawarre, Cobham, and Abergavenny, several
Sherifis, Justices of the Peace, Mayors, and some
private individuals in Kent, on the 28th of January
1461, when the young Duke of York, afterwards
King Edward the Fourth, was raising an army to
revenge the death of his father, who was slain at
Wakefield on the 30th of the preceding month,
and to resist the attempt made by the Queen to
wrest the government from the adherents of his
house. These Letters state, that the King had
" certain knowledge that those misruled and out-
" rageous people in the North parts of this
" Heahn, had been coming towards these parts,
" to the destruction thereof, of you, and subver-
** sion of all our land ;" and the persons addressed
were commanded to come to the King, in all pos-
sible haste, with as many followers as they could
collect, he being about to proceed in person against
his enemies.^
» Rot Pari, voL v. p. 350. 2 pp. 307-SlO, postea. '
f 4
Ixxxviii PREFACE.
MisoELLA- Some of the miscellaneous subjects which occu-
Articles. P^^d ^^^ attention of the Privy Council between the
twenty-second and thirty-ninth years of Henry the
Sixth are rather curious.
In 1445, a Knight in the King's service, called
Sir Andrew Ogard, who was a native of Denmark,
having succeeded to lands in that country, consi-
dered it necessary to obtain Henry's permission,
before he took possession of, and rendered the
duties required by the Danish laws for them,
although at that time the King of Denmark was
iu alliance with England.^
Two Petitions on religious matters, in 1449,
shew the interference of the Crown in monastic
establishments. A monk being desirous of re-
moving to an Abbey of more rigorous discipline,
or, as he described it, " to a harder Order,"
for the " more quiet and rest of his soul, to
^* the intent the more devoutly to serve and
" please Almighty God," procured the Pope's per-
mission to do so, without having first obtained
the King's sanction, for which he prayed his
Majesty to pardon him.^ The Prioress and Nuns
of Rowner in Hampshire^ complained that they
could not procure any priest to perform divine
service, or, as they flatteringly expressed it, to
pray for the King's noble estate and prosperity.
1 p. SB, pasted. 2 pp. eSy 67, pastea.
» Rowner is called Rowney, and is erroneously stated^ in the copy of
the petition; to be in Hertfordshire.
PREFACE. Ixxxix
unless they chose a young priest, which was not Miscei.i,a-
consistent with propriety, or one who demanded article^*
a larger salary than they could pay, A " good old
'" filar, a good preacher, their ghostly father, and
" a man of good conversation," having, in this
-emergency, performed service in their Priory, and
having given great satisfaction to the neighbourhood
by his teaching and preaching, the Prioress and
ier sisters requested the King, " for their ease and
" increasing of God's service," to order the Pro-
vincial of the Friars Minors to admit the said friar
to the Priory of Rowner,^
It appears from the Council's Proceedings in
1450, and from other sources, that on the death
of every Bishop of Ely, the King, by an ancient
tmstom, was entitled to a horse saddled and bridled,
a hat, a cloak, a ring, a cup, a lavour, and a mute
of hounds, or to a commutation for the same,^
About 1445 or 1446, the Red Book of the
Exchequer, the Roll of the Fifteenth Penny in all
the Shires in England, the Register of Tenths of
all the Dioceses of England and Wales, and other
Rolls and Records in the Exchequer, were ordered
to be transcribed in a large and legible hand in
large volumes, as they were then partly decayed by
-time, and in such small writing, that they could
scarcely be read, whereby great injury was produced^
as well to the King as to his subjects.®
J pp. 67, 68, posted. 2 pp. 102, lOS, pastea.
3 pp. 325, 326, postea.
xc PREFAGE.
MifiCELLA-. The Bishop of Chester having cited the Parson
NEOUS
Articles, of the Parish of Northerdon, in his Diocese, to
appear before him to answer for some spiritual
offence, " according to God's law," the Keeper of
the Seal of the Earldom of Chester sent the Bishop
or his Officers a prohibition in the matter, under
the said Seal, at which the King said, ^^ we mar^
" vel greatly and be evil content ;" and as the
correction of souls belonged to the Bishop, to be
exercised in his Diocese without any impediment,
the party was ordered immediately to surcease such
prohibitions, and never again to issue them, " for
" the making of such prohibitions beth against
" God's law and the Church's, and the Great
** Charter, the which, at the time of the receiving
" of our Crown, We be sworn upon the Holy
" Evangelists to observe and keep.'
>»i
Towards the end of the volume several articles
have been inserted, belonging to the early part of
the reign of Henry the Sixth, which were not
found until after the fifth volume was printed,
together with others, the precise dates of which
have not been ascertained.
Among those papers there is one of great
importance, as it affords new and valuable infor-
mation, upon some points of Constitutional History.
It consists of Regulations proposed by the Coun-
cil, and afterwards approved and signed by the
pp. 327, 328, postm.
PREFACE. xci
.King, respecting the manner in which Bills Mi8c«li.a-
NSOUS
or Petitions presented to him should be exa^ Abtici.c8.
mined, his pleasure taken thereon, and his com-
mands carried into full legal effect. The date
of this document, which is the original, is not
mentioned ; but it has been assigned, and pro-
bably with correctness, to the 22nd of Henry the
Sixth, 1443-44. Though, apparently, only a frag-
ment, the part which is lost seems, fortunately, to
have related to a totally different, and less in-«
teresting subject, because the last paragraph is an
ordinance for the prevention of riots, and has
nothing whatever to do with what precedes it.
Much inconvenience is said to have arisen
from the King not having always been aware
of the contents of Petitions, or of the conse-
quence of complying with the requests of impor-
tunate suitors. After protesting that it was not
the wish or intention of the Council, in submitting
those propositions to the King, to interfere with
the Royal prerogative, it was suggested that when-
ever a Lord of the Council, or any other indi- *
vidual, about the King's person, interested him-
self in promoting a Petition, he should sign it, so
that it might be known through whom it had been
granted ; and if the petitioner himself could not
write, that some other person should affix his
name to it. The Petitions thus signed were to
be delivered by the King to the person appointed
to receive them, who was to examine their con-
tents. If they related to matters of Justice, or of
xcii PREFACE.
MiscELLA- Common Law, the King's pleasure was to be taken.
Articles, that they might be sent to the Council, to be by
them referred to the proper Courts, unless the
petitioners were unable to sue at Common Law.
In cases where the Petitions were for matters of
grace and favour, the person appointed to examine
them was to indorse them briefly with what, by
whom, and how many things were solicited ; and
he was to place his own signature thereto, in order
that the King might the more readily learn the
object of such Petitions, and either give his assent
to them, or send them to the Council for their
advice. When his Majesty granted any Petition,
his commands were to be written at the foot of
it, by the officer above mentioned, that is, whe-
ther it was wholly or partially granted; and the
iiate and place at which, and in whose presence,
especially in the presence of what Lords, the King
had signified his pleasure in the matter, were also
to be stated.
The King was then to sign the Petition im»
mediately under such subscription, or to ordei
his Chamberlain to sign it, or to take it to his
Majesty's Secretary, with his commands respecting
it, " so that from the time that it be made in
" manner and form abovesaid signed, no man
** shall mowe add thereto or minish.'*
In all Letters by which the King granted
any thing, the following clause was to be in*
sorted : " Provided alway, that the King hath not
" granted the things asked to any other persoa
PREFACE. xciii
** before this time." All Warrants to, and copies Miscblla-.
NEOUS
of every thing which passed the Signet, whether articles..
Letters Missive, or other documents, were to be
carefully and readily kept, so that it might be
easily seen what things had passed ; and that
nothing might be done contrary to former pro-
ceedings. With the view of preventing hasty and
injurious Grants, or, to use the quaint but for-
cible words of the original, ^^ as such thing as
^ passeth the hands of many persons shall the
« more readily and sadly pass, and any hurt that ^
" else might grow to the King, or to prejudice
" of any other person, the more to be eschewed,''
whenever the King granted any Bill it was to be
delivered to his Secretary, who was to prepare
Letters for carrying it into effect, sealed with the
King's Signet, and addressed to the Keeper of the
Privy Seal, and from thence, under the Privy.
Seal, to the Chancellor of England.
If the Keeper of the Privy Seal, on receiving
a Letter from the King's Secretary, considered the
matter to be of great importance, he was to com-
municate it to the Council, that the latter might,
in cases of necessity, acquaint the King therewith
before. the grant passed.
The form of the oath to be taken by the
persons appointed to examine Bills, was then pre-
scribed, and to the effect that he would truly,
justly, and faithfully perform his duty, be strictly
impartial, and not accept of any gift for expediting,
promoting, or hindering them-
xciv PREFACE.
MiscBLLA- The last article of this Ordinance relates, as has
Articlbs. been stated, to riots and disturbances, for the more
effectual prevention of which, it was determined that
no Lord of any degree whatsoever should knowingly
receive or harbour in his household any robber,
murderer, outlaw, ravisher, or any other notorious
criminal, so that aggrieved parties might not be
deterred from prosecuting them, in consequence
of the protection afforded by the Nobility ; that
no Lord should, on any pretence, maintain any
other man's cause or quarrel, or be displeased with
any Judge or Officer for performing his duty
according to Law, or impede, by word or writing,
the due course of the King's Common Law ; and
that Lords should not only observe this them-
selves, but compel their servants and others, over
whom they had influence or authority, to do so
likewise. The neglect of these commands was to
be punished, in the instance of a Privy Councillor,
by his dismissal from the Council ; and in the case
of others, by being disqualified to become a Justice
of the Peace, or to hold any other office. This
part of the ordinance respecting riots was very
similar to the measures taken in the 5th and
8th of Henry VL^ which were repeated in the
1st of Edward IV.^
In these Regulations the first approach was
made towards rendering the King's Secretary a
1 Proceedings of the Council, voLiii. p. 213 ; voLiv. p. S5; and RoU
Pari. voL iv. p. 344 ; vol. v. p. 408. r
2 Rot. Pari, vol. v. p. 487.
PREFACE. XCV
responsible functionary ; and it is presumed that Miscblla-
they shew when, and under what circumstances, Articlbs.
safeguards were established against an improper
exercise of the Royal prerogative, in granting
honors, offices, lands, pardons, or immunities. It
is remarkable, that while the Statute and Common
Law of this country have been illustrated by some
of its most learned writers, the origin, history,
and duties of several of the highest Offices of
the Crown, as weU as many important points of
Constitutional Law, have been, comparatively, ne-
glected. This omission may be ascribed to two
causes. Writers on the Law have naturally directed
their attention to such parts of their profession
as are of the most practical utility ; and they have
only touched incidentally upon questions of a
more theoretical nature. Lord Coke, whose mind
grasped every department of legal knowledge, has,
indeed, often adverted to matters of this descrip-
tion; but, unfortunately, he has done little more
than allude to them. Mr. Justice Blackstone pur-
posely refrained from investigating the powers and
duties of the great Officers of State, because " he
^ ddd not know that they are, in that capacity, in
« any considerable degree the object of our Laws,
^ or had any important share of Magistracy con-
" ferred upon them^;" and all he says of the
Secretaries of State, who are now pre-eminently the
fimctionaries responsible to Parliament and the
> Commentaries^ vol. v. p. 338.
xcvi PREFACE.
MiscELLA^ Country for the due administration of the Law, and
KBOUS
Articles^ for most of the Acts of the Government, is, that
they are allowed the power of commitment to
bring offenders to trial/ Nor are the omissions of
Coke, Blackstone, and other jurists on these sub-
jects, supplied by any writer whatever. A serious
obstacle to inquiries of this nature has hitherto
existed in the lamentable condition of the only
authentic sources of information — the Public Re-
cords ; and until Government shall cause them to
be judiciously arranged, accurate catalogues of their
contents compiled, and free access to them afforded,
it will be impossible to write the History of ancient
Institutions and Offices, or to understand thoroughly
the machinery of the Constitution. In the mean-
time, however, something may be done towards the
illustration of these subjects ; and no apology can
be necessary for here collecting the scattered notices
which have been found in the Proceedings of the
Council, and in other sources of undoubted autho-
rity, respecting the Office of the King's Principal,
First, or Chief Secretary, or, as it was afterwards
and is now called, the King's Principal Secretary
OF State ; the duties of the King's Chamberlain'
in connection with Petitions and Grants ; and the
manner of carrying the King's Grants and Com-
mands into complete legal effect ; the latter of
which subjects will occasion some observations ta
be made on tne Great Seal.
1 Commentariesy vol. v. p. 338.
PREFACE. xcvii
THE KING'S SECRETARY. King*
Sbcretart,
In the only attempts which have been made
to trace the History of the Office of Secretary
of State, the mistake has been committed of sup-
posing that there was a close resemblance between
the duties of the ^ King's Secretary" in the thir-
teenth century, and those of the " Secretary of
" State" of modern times. It cannot be doubted
that our early Monarchs, as well as those of other
Countries S were always attended by a learned
ecclesiastic, originally called their "Clerk," and
and afterwards their " Secretary," whose duty it
was to conduct the King's correspondence, and to
communicate his commands in writing to the high
Officers of State, when those functionaries did not
receive them from the Sovereign in person. They
were not, however, in any sense of the term, Secre-
1 ** Panni les Comtes qui souscriyirent le viii^. Concile de Toldde; on
*^ troaye un Comte de Notaires : c*6toit sans doute leur chef. II 6toit
** en Espagne ce que pouvoit ^tre alors en France le Grand Referendaire,
** et depuis le Grand Chancelier, k qui Hinemar donne le nom de Secri-
** taire. La dignity de Tribun & Notaire des Empereurs Romains €toit
^ ^quiyalente k celle de Secretaire dJEtoL M. Eckhart soutient, d'apres
^ Saumaise, que le terme Secretarius^ pour signifier le Notaire ou le
** Cbancelier d*un Prince, 6toit inconnu du temps de Louis le D6bonnaire.
** Mais M. Schannant lui oppose la 6S« lettre d'Alcuin, oik Angilbert Abb6
** de S.Riquier est appelI6 BeguB volurUaiis Secretaritu; comme qui diroit,
** Secretaire des commandemens du Roi. Le titre de Secretaire dEtat
n'a ^ donn6 que sous Henri IL aux officiers qui portent aujourd'hui
ce titre. On les appelloit auparavant Clercs du Secret et Secretaires
<< da Roi, &c." '< Le Roi Philippe le Bel d^clara, en 1S09, qu'il y au-
*' loit pr^ de sa personne trois Clercs du Secret & vingt sept Clercs ou
^ Notaires sous eux. Depuis Charle IX. les Secretaires d'Etat ont ordi-
nairement signg pour le RoL" ( V. N. 7% 61, 62.)
VOL. VI. g
XCvUi PREFACE.
King's taries of Stoie ; nor was that title ever attributed to
Secretary
' them in England until the end of the reign of
Queen Elizabeth ; and, except when they were
Members of the Privy Council, they were never, in
any degree, responsible for the measures of the
Government.
The title of " Principal'' or « adef or " First
" Secretary'' arose, not, as has been supposed,,
from the appointment, by Henry the Eighth, of
a Second Principal or Chief Secretary, with co-
ordinate powers and similar duties, but from the
existence, at a very early time, of another Secre-
tary of nearly the same rank, and with very
similar duties, for the French, and in and after the
time of Henry the Eighth, for the Latin language.
As the facts which have been discovered
respecting the King's Secretaries, from the reign
of Henry the Third to that of James the First,
afford much information on the subject, and ap-
pear to have been hitherto unknown, they will be
stated.
Henry III. There is reason to believe that until the
middle, or towards the close of the reign of Henry
the Third, the " King's Secretary" was called the
" King's Clerk," as that oflSce is frequently men-
tioned in the Close .Rolls of King John and Henry
the Third. The first notice which has been found
of the " King's Secretary" is in May, 37 Hen. HL
1253, when John Maunsell, Chancellor of London,
and Provost of Beverley, was described by the title
of " Secretarius noster" in his appointment as one
PREFACE. xcix
of the envoys to negociate an alliance with Spain. ^ King's
MaunseU also held that situation in July 1254, ^^"^'^^^'^y-
when Prince Edward mentioned him as his father's
Secretary*; and in the month of August following,
when the King empowered him, by the title of
* his Secretary," to give his assent to the marriage
of Prince Edward with Eleanor of Castile^; but the
office is not again attributed to him, although his
name often occurs in the Public Records.
In July 1253, Henry the Third made his Will,
by whidi he appointed Henry de Wengham one of
his executors, by the description of "my Clerk.''*
There can be no doubt that the term " Clerk" was
not used in that document in an ecclesiastical
sense, as the King had already mentioned his
Chaplain, and Wengham's name follows that of the
Steward of his Household. It is remarkable that
Maunsell,.who, in the month of May in that year
and in August 1254, was the King's Secretary, and
who was also one of Henry's executors, is described
only as " Provost of Beverley."
Under these circumstances, it is doubtful
whether the appellation of the "King's Clerk
was, or was not, at that period, sometimes syno-
M6
1 Foden, new ed. voLL p. 290. ^ Ji^tL p.S04.
3 Jb9d.p.S06. 4 2lnd. p. 496.
^ In 1247 Sylvester, the <' King's Clerk," and in 1425 John de Kil-
keanj, the '< Sang's Clerk," executed the office of Chancellor. It is not
VB^Sufy that the '* King's Clerk" sometimes meant the Clerk of the
CfowD, and at others one of the Clerks in Chancery ; and it may abo,
in later Hmes, have meant one of the Clerks of the Signet
g2
C PREFACE.
King's nimous with the "King's Secretary," or whether
' they were not a distinct office. The political
importance of the situation of " Bang's Secretary,"
or "King's Clerk," when held by Maunsell and
Wengham, cannot now be determined ; but it is
certain that they were both persons of considerable
eminence, as in 1247 and 1249 Maunsell, and in
1255 Wengham, had the custody of the Great Seal ;
that in June 1258, if not before, both of them were
members of the King's Council ^; and that in 1260
Wengham was elected Bishop of London*
Edward I. All that has been discovered respecting the
King's Secretary in the reign of Edward the First
is, that in July, 6 Edw. I. 1278, the King, in a
letter to the Pope, said that he had sent Francis
Accursii of Bononia, Professor of the Civil Law,
" Consiliarius, Familiaris, et Secretarius noster,"
and others to his Holiness^; and that in November,
28 Edw. I. 1299, John de Benstede, Clerk, was de-
scribed as " ipsius Domini Regis Secretarius."^ As
both Accursii and Benstede seem, from the other
situations which they filled*, to have been men of
1 Rot Pat, 42 Hen. III. m. 6. ^ Foedera, new ed. voL i. p. 559.
3 Ibid. p. 916.
4 Accursii was on more than one occasion sent as envoy to the Pope, a
most difficult and important mission, for which persons of the highest
talents, and in whom the King had the greatest confidence, were selected.
(Foedera, new ed., vol. i. p. 5^2,) Other notices of Accursii will be found
in the same volume, pp. 516, 524, 598, 741. Benstede was Keeper
of the Great Seal in 1297, a member of the Council in 1304, and in
1305 was made Chancellor. (Fosdera, new ed., vol. i. p. 876; vd. ii»
pp. 966, 974.) • He is not described as King's Secretary after 1299.
PREFACE. ci
considerable talents, it may be inferred that the King's
office of King's Secretary required ability and dis- retaryv
cretion ; and that it generally led to some of the
highest Offices in the State. The situation of
« King's Clerk'' was filled, in the 18th Edw. L
1290, by William de Grenfeld, a Canon of York,
who was also one of the King's Councillors^; but
Grenfeld may either have been the Clerk of the
Crown, or the King's Secretary.^
Nothing has been found respecting the office Edward il
of King's Secretary during the reign of Edward
the Second, except that " Dominus Willielmus
" de Melton " is described as the King's Secretary
in March 1308^; and he was probably the person
of that name who was afterwards Lord Chancellor
and Archbishop of York; but in the reign of
Edward the Third there is some curious informa-
tioD on the subject.
In November, in the 21st Edw. III. 1347, Edward iir
Eegulations were made for the government of the
King's Household, from which it appears that the
King's Secretary received forty-six shillings and
eight-pence a year for his salary ; but his condition
is most clearly shewn by comparing it with that of
the King's other officers. He was evidently much
inferior in station, not only to the Treasurer, Comp-
troller, Keeper of the Privy Seal, Cofferer, Almoner,
Dean of the Chapel, and other of the superior
I Fcrdera, new ed., voL i. p. 741 . ^ Vide p. xciz. n. 5*
3 Rot. ClauB., I Edw. IL m. 7. d.
g 5
cii PREFACE.
King's Officers of the Household, but even to the King's
Physicians, all of whom received double the
amount of his wages. The King's Secretary was,
moreover, classed both in rank and pay, with
the Receivers of the Chamber, the Clerks of the
Kitchen, the Clerk Marshal, the Clerks of the
Wardrobe, Market, and Privy Seal, the Chaplains,
and the Surgeon/ Of Edward the Third's Secre-
taries not even the names have been ascertained ;
but the celebrated Froissart states, in the Preface to
his Chronicles, that he had been in his youth
Secretary to Queen Philippa.
Richard II. Nothing more has been discovered of the
Secretaries to Richard the Second, than that
Robert Braybroke is described as "nostre Secre-
taire" in a Letter Missive® to the Chancellor, dated
in September 1379. Braybroke was evidently the
person who was elected Bishop of London in 1381,
and who was appointed Lord Chancellor in Sep-
tember in the same year. It also appears that
Isabel, the Queen of Richard the Second, had a
Secretary, who, like her Confessor, formed part of
her Household, and was probably also a Priest.^
Henry IV. About the year 1402, Henry the Fourth ap-
pointed John Prophet, a priest, who had been
Clerk of the Council in the reign of his prede-
cessor*, and was at that time a Privy Coun-
1 Ordinances and Regulations for the Government of the Royal House-
hold, 4to, 1790, p. 10.
2 Ex orig. in Turr. London.
8 Proceedings of the Council, 2 Hen. IV., vol. i. p. 137.
^ Ibid. pp. 12 b, 14 b, et passim.
PREFACE. ciii
cillor, his Secretary. It is deservinc of obser- King's
Sjecrbtary
vifticffi, that Prophet seems to have resigned his
seat in the Council on being made the King's
Secretary^; but whether he did so from the in-
compatibility of the two situations, or from any
other cause, cannot now be determined. He con-
tinued to hold that H)ffice until the 13th Hen. IV..
1412, when he was appointed Keeper of the Privy
Seal"" ; and the name of his successor is not known.
Though it is almost certain that Prophet was not
a member of the Privy Council after he became
Secretary, he was nevertheless a person of much con-
sideration ; for in October, in the 4th of Henry IV.
1402, when the Commons requested the King to
allow them to communicate with some Lords of
Parliament on the afiairs of the Realm, he sent
Lord Say, the Steward of his Hpusehold, and
Prophet his Secretary, to them, to state that he
had complied with their request, not, however,
as a matter of right or custom, but of his special
grace on that occasion ; whence it appears that a
conference between the Lords and Commons
could not be claimed as a matter of right, nor
take place without the special consent of the
Crown.^
In the early part of the reign of Henry the Henry v.
Fifth, a Priest of the name of John Stone was
1 See a letter from Prophet in the Proceedings of the Priry Council,
4di H(3kIV. 140S, voLii. p. 78.
2 Rot Pat, 13 Hen. IV. m. 10.
d Rot ParL, 4 Hen. IV., voL uL p. 486.
g *
civ PREFACE.
King's the King's Secretary ^; but before May 1421 he
Secretary. 111 TTr*ii" a 1 * 1 1
was succeeded by William Alnewick, also an
ecclesiastic, and who is recorded to have been
then present in, even if he was not a member of
the Privy Council.^ After the accession of Henry
the Sixth, Alnewick delivered up certain docu-
ments to Parliament^; and was soon afterwards
made Keeper of the Privy Seal*, and in 1426 was
elected Bishop of Norwich.
Henry VI. The first uotice of the King's Secretary in the
reign of Henry the Sixth is in March 1432, when,
at the instance of the Duke of Gloucester, a change
took place in the Officers of the Royal House-
hold. On the 1st of that month the King's Cham-
berlain and Steward, the Dean of the Chapel, and
the King's Almoner were superseded, and William
Hayton, the King's Secretary, was dismissed from
his office. No person was appointed to succeed
him ; but the Signet, which had been in his charge,
was placed in a bag, sealed with the Duke of
Gloucester's signet, and delivered into the cus-
tody of the Treasurer of the Exchequer/ Of
Hayton, who was a priest, nothing more is known ;
and the next notice of the King's Secretary is in
June 1439, when the office was held by Thomas
1 He is so described in Henry the Fifths Will, dated in July, S Hen. V,. .
1415 ; Foedera, voL ix. p. 292.
2 Proceedings of the Council, vol ii. p. 315.
« Rot Pari, 1 Hen. VI. 1422, voL iv. p. 179.
4 He held that office as early as March, 2 Hen. VI. 1424 ; Foedera,
vol. xi. p. 327.
^ Proceedings of the Council, 10 Hen. VI., voLiv. p. 110.
PREFACE. CV
Beckington, Doctor of LawsS a Member of the KiNo'g
Privy Council ^; and a person of great ability and
learning. Beckington seems to have continued
the King's Secretary until July 1443^ when he was
made Keeper of the Privy Seal ; and in September
in the same year he became Bishop of Bath and
Wells.^ It has not been ascertained who succeeded
him ; but in July 1460, Thomas Mannyng was the
King's Secretary.^ He was one of the King's Chap-
lains, and in April 1454 obtained the Deanery of
St George's Chapel at Windsor.® In 1455, he
received and read the Letters addressed by the
Duke of York to the King before the battle of
St. Albans^, and was one of the Receivers of Peti-
tions in the Parliament at Coventry in November
1459.® ^lannyng, with the other Lancastrians,
was attainted of high treason immediately after the
accession of Edward the Fourths®
The first time a second Secretary to the King
is mentioned, is in the 12th Hen. VI. 1433, when
the name of John Rjrvel occurs as the King's
1 Proceedings of the Council, voL v. pp. 334, 335.
' He was a member of the Council as early as December 1432.
Vide Foedoa, toL x. pp. 527? 530.
3 Beckington was certainly the King's Secretary in February 1443.
See the Journal of his Embassy to negociate the King's marriage with
a daughter of the Count of Armagnac in 1442 and 1443. London, Svo.
1828.
^ Foedera, yoL xL p. 58. ^ p. 361, pasteeu
* p. 169, potiea. 7 Rot Pari., vol. v. p. 282.
^/&tt£p.345.
* RiiL 1 Edw. IV., voL v. p. 477. Mannyng was therein described as
* kte o( New Windsor in Berkshire, Clerk."
^jYi PREFACE*
Kino's Secretary S and who is styled, in February 1435,
Sbcretary. « ^g King's Secretary in his Realm of France.''^
In October 1442 both John Ryvel and Gervais de
Vulre were described as the "King's Secretaries V*
and the latter, by the appellation of " Maister
" Gervays le Volore, one of your Secretaries,"
was accused by the Commons, in 1451, of having
misbehaved about the Royal person, and in other
places, to the injury of his service ; upon which the
Commons wished to remove him, with several
others, from the King's presence, for the rest of
their lives/ These persons were evidently the
King's Secretaries for the affiurs of France.
Notwithstanding the King's English Secretary
was then often a Privy Councillor, his office had
not increased in rank or importance. In the Ordi-
nances for the government of the Royal House-
hold, made in November 33 Hen. VI. 1454*, as in
those of Edward the Third®, the Secretary was
1 Proceedings of the Council, voL iv. p. 187-
3 Ibid, p. 291. He was sometimes merely described as ^< Our Clerk
<« and Secretary." Vide Rot Pari., 23 Hen. VI. 1444, voL v. p. 88 b.,
and the Proceedings of the Council, voL v. pp. 210, 213. On the dOth
of Jime 1434, James Lunayn was called << the King's Secretary of his
** Kingdom of France." Ibid voL v. p. 259.
« Ibid voL V. pp. 210, 213, 217, 221, 297.
4 Rot Pari., 29 Hen. VI. vol. v. p. 216.
5 pp. 222-224, poOea. These Regulations were printed by the Society
of Antiquaries in the Collection of Ordinances relating to the House-
hold, in 1790, but not correctly ; for example, —
" Ch'lrs— Ch'rs iiij. ev'ich of theym ij. yomen *'
dre there called << Chamberers^'* instead of Chevaliers.
^ Vide p. cii} antea.
jrR£FAC£« CVil
placed after the Physician and Kni^ts of the Kino's
Body, or, as they were sometimes called. Knights
of the Household ; and he and his two Clerks
were allowed only two yeomen, whilst the King's
Canrers were allowed an Esquire and two yeomen
each, the principal Physician two yeomen, and
each of the Knights of the Body and the second
Physician one yeoman. It is therefore evident
that in the middle of the fifteenth century the
King's Secretary was an Officer only one degree
higher in consideration than the King's Chaplain
and the Kmg's Esquires, and that he was of
inferior rank to the Knights of the King's House-
hold, and his Physicians.
The notices of the King's Secretaries in the Edward IV.
time of Edward the Fourth are more frequent
than in any preceding period; and they afford
information from which more certain conclusions
can be drawn. In September, 4 Edw. IV, 1464,
William Hatclyffe was one of the King's Secre-
taries^, and he was a Member of the Council
as early as 1467^ at which time, as well as
upon every other occasion he is called " Our
" Secretary and Councillor." ® Hatclyffe still held
tliat office in the 20th Edw. IV. 1480, when a coad-
jutor was given him*, on account of his age or infir-
mities, and he died in the same year.* The identity
of his name with that of William Hatclyffe who was
1 Foedeia, vol xL p. 532. ^ IM. p. 590.
^ Jbid^poMsimy and voLxii. pp.SOy 33.
« Rot. Pat, 20 Edw.IV. mJ8. ^ Ibid. m. 5.
bviii PREFACE.
k!ing's a Physician to Henry the Sixth in 1454\ and who
' was certainly living in 1468^, suggests the possi-
bility of his being the same person. In the
8th Edw. IV. 1468, John Prophet (probably a rela-
tion of the person of that name who was Secretary
to Henry the Fourth^,) obtained a grant of the
office of Secretary " in lingua Gallica" for life,
to hold it as Master Gervaise* had done, with a
salary of £20 per annum.* Prophet either died or
was removed before 1476, as on the 18th of Marck
in that year, Oliver King, " Master of the seven
•' liberal Arts, and Licentiate in Laws," was ap-
pointed the King's First and Principal Secretary in
the French language for life, with the same fees as
Master Gervaise, late Secretary in England for the
said language, had received.®
The term " Principal Secretary" did not,
therefore, always mean Principal of all the King's
Secretaries, but merely of a different department ;
and it appears that the duties of both the King's
Principal Secretaries were nearly the same, with-
out reference to one of them being designated the
Secretary for the French language. The office of
French Secretary arose from the affairs of France
having, in the reigns of Henry the Fifth and Sixth,
required the appointment of a person purposely
1 pp. 167, 228, postea. ^ Fcedera, vol. xL p. 635.
s p. cii, antea, ^ p. cvi, (tntea.
5 Rot Glaus., 8 Edw. IV. m. 19.
^ Fcedera, voL xii. p. 26 ; Rot Pat, 16 Edw. IV. p. 1. m. 25.
17 Edw. IV. p. U
PREFACE. cix
to attend to them, and who was generally called the Kmo's
" King's Secretary in his Realm of France'* ; but,
like many others, it was retained long after the neces-
sity for its creation had ceased, under the title of
" the King's Secretary for the French language".
In fact, however, the Secretary for the French lan-
guage was then little else than the King's se-
cond Secretary, for it was specially provided in
Dr. King's patent, that he should receive all kinds of
Bills and Warrants issued by the King's hand, and
prepare all Warrants whatsoever addressed to the
Chancellor or to the Privy Seal, together with all
Letters, as well in Latin as in English, and should
receive for them the accustomed fees.^ In the
20th Edw. IV. 1480, Dr. King was appointed
coadjutor to Hatclyffe in the office of Secretary ;
and it was ordered that he should have the custody
of the Signet in Hatclyffe's absence, and succeed
him after his decease.^ As the King's Secretary
was appointed by his Majesty's merely placing his
Signet in his custody, and as it was then in the
charge of Hatcl3rffe, it was necessary to appoint
his coadjutor by Letters Patent ; by which instru-
ment, however, the Secretaries for the French
and Latin languages have always been appointed. .
Hatclyffe having died in 1480, he was suc-
ceeded by Dr. King ; and Master Stephen Fryon
became Secretary for the French language, with a
1 Fcedera, vol. xii. p. 96. 2 Rot Pat, 20 Edw. IV. p. 2. m. 23.
ex PREFACE.
King's salary of JBIO, in the room of Dr. King, in the same
year/
The rank and emoluments of King*s Secre-
tary in the time of Edward the Fourth remained
the same as in the two preceding reigns. In the
♦* Liber Niger Domiis Regis Angliae," containing
Regulations for the Eing^s Household, the office
of Secretary is mentioned immediately after the
Knights of the Household, and before the four
Chaplains. He was allowed a gentleman to attend
upon him, and had four Clerks, with "sufficient
" writers of the King's Signet under him ;" all of
whom were supported at His Majesty's expence.*
The King's Secretary was also classed with
the Knights of the Household in the Sumptuary
Law, restraining excess in apparel, in the !22nd
Edw. IV. 1482. It was then ordained that no
person under the degree of a Lord should wear
plain cloth of gold, or under that of a Knight any
velvet in their gowns, or that those below the
rank of a Lord should wear any gown or cloak
unless it were of sufficient length, " he being up-
1 Rot Glaus., 20 Edw. IV. m. 11 ; Rot Pat, 21 Edw. IV. p. 2. m. 1.
3 The passage relating to the King's Secretary is as follows : —
^' A Secretary sitting in the King's chambre or hall with a person
** of like servyse ; and he shall have eting in the hall, one gentilman.
^ Item, for his chambre for all day, iij. loves, ij. messes of grete mete^
^ dim' a picher wyne, ij. gallons ale, one torche, one percher, ij. candelL»
" wax, iij. candells peris' in wynter season, and iij. taliwood, ruyshes and
** litter, all the yere of the serjeaunt ussher of the hall and chambyr,
** parchemynte and paper, sufficiaunt of the office of the grete spycery,
^* by oversyght of comptroller or his clerks, and that to be allowed in
PRdFACEm Cxi
^ ri^t, to cover his privy members and buttocks ;" Kinq'»
but it was specially provided, that the Act should
not be prgudicial to the liberty of wearing cloth
and for (purple and cloth of gold only excepted^
the former of which was reserved to the Royal
family, and the latter to Peers,) by eight Ediights
who were named, and who were the Knights of
the Household, " nor of M. Oliver King, the King's
" Secretary, nor to the Dean of the Chapel or
" the Treasurer of the Household.**^
Edward the Fourth was attended in his expe-
dition to France, in 1475, by Hatclyife his Secre*
tary, who received two shillings per diem ; and a
gentleman^ his servant, was allowed j£36 8«. for one
<< the eoQntyog-hoiuey and also red wax ; and whan he hathe nede of
<< muche wntmg, than he to have comaundment from the seyd countyng*
^ house for perchers of tallowe or smaller candells peris'. To this office
*< are belonging liij. clerks, sufficiannt Writers of the King's Signet under
* the seide Secretary, eting dayly in the King's hall; and for theyre
'' lyreiey at nyght a gallon ale, and in wynter season, one candell
^ peris' ; and whan theyre business requireth, then, by the Secretary's
** ]^xo^ recorde, these clerks to have dynners and soupers to theyre
" scriploiy, taking so for ooe mele one payne, one messe gros de cusyn*
" dim' a gallon servoise. The Secretary and his clerks pay for theire
** carriage of hameys in courte, except a littell coffer in which the King's
** wanaimts and billes assigned, and other lettres and remembraunces
" be kept 9fan a filace. This cofiyr is carried at the King's cost»
wiiereas the Countroller wull aasigne. The Secretary he hath into
** this oourte iij. persones wayters on hym for all that office. The
** remanent of all other servaunts to be founden at his lyvery in the
^ eomitrey ddiverede by the herberger, sufficiauntly for hym and all
*^ the clerks ; and whan hymself is oute of courte, he hath a yoman to
" kepe his chaumber, etyng at the Chaumberlayn's bourde in the hall :
'^ both he and his clerks take clothing of the King's warderober."
1 Roc ParL vol yL pp. 220, 221.
cc
cxii PREFACE.
King's man-at-arms and thirteen archers for one quarter's
Secretart. ^gggg 'pjjg Secretary's salary was the same as that
of the King's Physician, and the Clerk of the
Council.^
Richard III. Richard the Third on his accession to the
throne displaced Dr. King, and appointed John
Kendal, who seems to have been Chief Clerk of the
King's Bench^ his Secretary. Kendal was present,
and is described as the King's Secretary on the 1st of
August 1485, when the Great Seal was delivered
to the Master of the RoUs.^ He had the same
allowance of scarlet cloth for Richard's coronation
as the Treasurer of the Household, which was
less than was given to the Judges and Seijeants-at-
Law, but considerably more than the Clerk of the
Council received.* Kendal, with the other ad-
herents of Richard, was afterwards attainted of
high treason.*
Henry Vll. ^i^g Henry the Seventh appointed Dr.Richard
Fox his Secretary®, and re-appointed Stephen
Fryon his Secretary of the French language, as
soon as he ascended the throne.^ Fox became
1 Foedera, voLxi. p. 848.
2 Rot. Pat, temp. Edw. V. He obtained the offices of Comptroller of
the Exchange, and Assayer of the Mint, and was re-appointed Chief Clerk
and Keeper of the Rolls of the King's Bench in 1 Ric. III., Rot Pat eod.
ann.
« Foedera, voL xii. p. 272.
4 Antiquarian Repertory, ed. 1807, voLi. p. 53.
* Rot ParL, voL vi. p. 276.
« IbicL, 1 Hen. VII., 1485, vol. vL pp. 361, 377.
7 Ibid. p. 375 ; and Rot Pat, 1 Hen. VII., p. L m. 12. Richard the
Third also retained Fryon in that office^ Rot Pat 1 Ric. III., m. 3.
PREFACE. cxiii
Bishop of Exeter in April 1487; and seems to Kino's
have been succeeded by Dr. Oliver King, who had S^^R^tart.
been Secretary to Edward the Fourth, for in August
1489 one of the persons present at Windsor at
the confirmation of the treaty of peace with Por-
tugal, was " Master Oliver King, our Secretary."
It is worthy of attention, as indicating that the
King's Secretary was of higher importance than he
bad hitherto been considered, that he was classed
with the Barons in the list of witnesses on that
occasion.* Dr. King was probably at that time
a Privy Councillor, for in May 1492 he was
styled " our Councillor and Secretary." ^ He was
made Bishop of Exeter in October following ; and
his successor appears to have been Dr. Thomas
Eouthale, who certainly was the King's Secretary
in May 1500 ^ August 1504 S and in March 1509,
when he was appointed one of the executors of
the King's Will ; at which time, and probably many
years before, he was also a Privy Councillor.
' FoBcLera, toL xii. p. 379. ''Praesentibus tunc ibidem Reverendissimo in
'^ Chnsto patre Johanne Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi, totius Angliae Pri-
** mate, et Apostolicse Sedis Legato, Cancellario nostro Angliae, ac venera^
** bOi in Chnsto patre Ricardo Episcopo Exoniensi, Custode Privati
** Sigilli nostii ; ac clarissimis Dominis Henrico Nortbumbriae, Georgio
^ Salopiae, et Henrico Essexise, Comitibus ; Georgio Stanley de Straunge,
^ Milite ; Ricardo Nevyll de Latymer, et Johanne le Souche de Soiiche,
^ Magistro Olivero Kyng, Secretario nostro, Baronibus ; Tboma Lovell
*< et Ricardo Guldeford, Militibtts ; testibus ad prsemissa vocatis spe^
** daliter et rogatis."
2 Foedera, voL xii. p. 477. « Ibid. p. 753.
4 IbiiL voL xiiu p. 107.
VOL. VI. h
cxiv PREFACE.
Kino's In July 1509, a few months after the accession
pkcretaby _^
V ^^ ^^^^g Henry the Eighth, Dr. Eouthale was elected
Bishop of Durham ; but he continued the King's
Secretary until May 1515, when he was made
Keeper of the Privy Seal.^ The Bishop of Dur-
ham was succeeded by Dr. Richard Pace, Dean of
St. Paul's % who in April 1520, and again in 1523,
was described as " Principal Secretary."^ Pace
became deranged in mind, and is said to have
been succeeded by Dr. William Knight, who was
appointed in August 1526, for on the 21st of that
month he wrote to Wolsey : " The said day being
" Monday the King did ride on hunting. The
" next day I did speak with his Highness, and
" He did make unto me very honorable recule,
*^ with delivery of His Signet, and many good
" words, for which all I most humbly thank your
" Grace."* Knight was still Secretary in August
1527 ^; and probably for a short time afterwards.
The nature of the office of King's Secretary,
1 Foedera, voL xiii. p. 553.
2 It is saidy in a note to the << State Papers" (voL i. p. 2.), that Pace
was appointed in 1515; but he is only described as '^ Master Richard
'' Pace, Archdeacon of Dorset," in his appointment to treat with the envoys
from the Helvetick States, dated on the 21st of February, 7 Hen. VIII.
1516. (Fcedera, vol. xiii. p. 54*7.) The earliest letter signed by himamon^
the <' State Papers" is dated on the 5th of July 1518. On the 7th of May,
28 Hen. VIII., 1536, Peter Vannes, Prebendary of Bedwyn, the Eling's
Latin Secretary, was appointed coadjutor of Richard Pace, Dean of Sidis-
bury, who was then labouring under mental infirmity, in the performance
of bis ecclesiastical duties. Fcedera, vol. xiv. p. 568.
» Fcedera, vol. xiii. p. 714? ; Rot Pat 15 Hen. VIII. p. 1.
4 State Papers, vol. i. p. 172. » 3id. p. 261.
PREFACE- CXV
as it existed in the early part of the reign of Henry Kino's
Secret ART*
the Eighth, is shewn, in a very satisfactory manner,
by the Correspondence of Dr. Pace and Dr. Knight
witfi Cardinal Wolsey and Lord Cromwell, whence
it appears that its duties did not then involve
aoj Ministerial responsibility. It is also manifest
that Henry did not always entrust his Secretary
with the communication of affairs of a very secret
nature, and that he read every letter, and dictated
the answers thereto, himself. In July 1518 the
King wrote, with his own hand, to inform Wolsey
that he had received his letters " to the which
" (because they ask long writing) I have made
" answer by my Secretary ; two things there be
" which be so secret that they cause me at this
" time to write to you myself."* Dr. Pace, the Prin-
cipal Secretary, said, in a letter to Wolsey in 1521,
^ Whereas your Grace commandeth me to [read]
^' unto the King all such letters as I shall write
" in matters of weight and great importance by his
" commandment, to your Grace, I have continually
^ so done, and shall not fail, in time to come, to
*^ do the same ; and his Grace is well contented to
" bear them, as he commanded me to write unto
your Grace in my last letters j and I, by my
will, would write no letter of importance that
should pass by my hands, not viewed by. his
^ Grace, for mine own discharge, and especially
" in such causes as be now in hand. Wherefore I
1 State Papers, voL i. p. L
h 2
^^yi PREFACE*
Kino's «« shall be greatly bound unto your Grace, if it
' " shall please the same, to move the King by
" writing, to be contented that all letters of im-
" portance, touching these great affairs, may pass
" under His sign and seal, for the surety of all
« those that shall meddle with them.''^ Wolsey
having expressed his displeasure, that Secretary
Pace had not fully communicated the contents of
his letters to the King, but had only done so
" diminutely ;'' Pace said in his reply, " I never
" rehearsed your Grace's letters, diminutely, or
" fully, but by the King's express command-
" ment ; who readeth all your letters with great
" diligence, and mine answers made to the same,
" not by my device, but by his instructions.
" And as for one of my letters, which was unto
" your Grace very displeasant, as it appeared
" by your answer to the same, I had, at that
" time, devised a letter in the same matter,
" far discrepant from that ye received; but the
" King would not approve the same, and said
" that he would himself devise an answer to your
" Grace's letters, sent to him at that time ; and
" commanded me to bring your said letters in to
" his Privy Chamber with pen and ink, and there
" he would declare unto me what I should write.
" And when his Grace had your said letters, he
" read the same three times, and marked such
" places as it pleased him to make answer unto,
' State Papen, vol. i. pp. 26, 27.
<4
U
PREFACE. CXvii
" and commanded me to write and to rehearse, as Kino's
« liked him, and not further to meddle with that S^cretart.
answer. So that I herein nothing did, but
obeyed the King's commandment, as to my
duty appertaineth, and especially at such time
** as he would, upon good grounds, be obeyed,
" whosoever spake to the contrary. As touching
** untrue information, to be made by me to the
^ King, of your Grace's letters, I am sorry ye do
" lay that to my charge; for if I did untruly in-
" form his Highness of any part of the same
** letters ,that be of so great weight and importance5
" I should not only deal unkindly and falsely
" with your Grace, but also be a manifest traitor
^ to the King ; which crime in me, by the grace
^ of God, shall never be found : for though I
** lack wit, yet for faith and truth, I dare compare
" with any servant the King hath. Furthermore,
" if I would inform the King otherwise of your
** Grace's letters than the truth is, I conith not
" so do without great shame, and to mine own
" evident ruin ; for his Grace doth read them
" all his self, and examine the same at leisure^
" with great deliberation, and hath better wit to
^* understand them, than I to inform him."^
In a letter which Pace soon afterwards wrote
to Wolsey, he seems to have complained that an
irregularity had been committed respecting the
business of his office, as he says, " Whereas the
' State Papers, vol. i. p. 80.
h3
gsCRBTART.
cxviii PREFACE.
King's " Mayor of London hath lately sent to your
" Grace a transumpt, written both in the Spanish
" tongue and Latin, I advertise your Grace that
" he therein hath negligently done, for he should
^* have sent the same to me, and I to your Grace,
" declaring the King's pleasure touching that
" matter^,'' which he proceeds to state.
In September 1526, Dr. Knight, whom Wolsey
describes as *^ a wise, trusty, faithful subject, and
" Councillor ^" wrote to the Cardinal : " In all
" letters, and specially those that beth in French,
^* sent from your Grace unto His Highness, to be
" signed, there is a little billet contained, for the
" King's better information of subscription of the
^* letters. His Highness willed me to desire your
*^ Grace, that I might have a memorial, how the
^* said letters should be subscribed, without any
" further using of the said billets; inasmuch as
" it hath pleased His Highness, and your Grace,
" that I should give continual attendance upon
« him."^
Ordinances were made at Eltham for the
government of Henry the Eighth's Household in
January 1526, which, together with subsequent
Regulations on the subject, afford much curious
information about the King's establishment, and the
Officers attached to his person. For the promotion
of Justice, for deciding on the numerous Petitions
which were presented to his Majesty, and for the
'
1 State Papers, vol. i. p. 82. 2 Ibid. p. 270. » Ibid. p. 176.
PREFACE. cxix
better management of the affairs of the Kingdom, King's
Henry appointed ^^ a good number of honourable,
virtuous, sad, wise, expert, and discreet persons
of his Council." Among them was " the Secre-
tary," who is placed between the Comptroller and
the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ; and it
was ordered that ten of those persons, one of whom
was the Secretary, should constantly attend the
CounciL^ The King's Secretary was lodged within
the Court, and was allowed stabling for eight
horses, and three beds for his servants, being the
same as was allowed to the Vice-Chamberlain, and
to such Knights and others, as were Members of the
Privy Council.^ The Queen had likewise a Secre-
tary ; but he was allowed only five horses and two
beds, being two horses less than her Majesty's
Vice^Chamberlain.^
About June 1529, Dr. Stephen Gardiner
is supposed to have been made Principal Secre-
tary*; but he was still Clerk of the Council in
October in that year.* Dr. Gardiner was elected
Bishop of Winchester in December 1531, when he
probably resigned the Secretaryship ; and all that
is known of his successor is, that Thomas Crom-
well, a Privy Councillor, is said to have been
appointed Principal, or, as he was often termed.
1 Eegalations of the Royal Household, 4to, 1790, pp. 159, 160.
2 Ibid. p. 198. 3 Jbid. p. 1 99.
"* State Papers, vol. i. p. 337. ^ Foedera, vol. xiv. p. 349.
h 4
cxx PREFACE.
King's Chiefs OF First ^ Secretary, between the 7th of
Secretaby. jy^^^^^^^ 1533^ ^^^ ^^^ 12th of April 1534 ^ and
that he held that office until he was made Keeper
of the Privy Seal * on the 2nd, and a Peer on the
9th, of July 1536.
Lord Cromwell's immediate successor was
Thomas Wriothesley, afterwards Earl of South-
ampton ; and the next notice of the King'i^
Chief Secretary occurs in the Statute regulating
Precedency, or, as it is entitled, " for placing the
" Lords," which was passed in the Parliament
that met at Westminster on the 28th of April
1539. After providing for the Precedency of
the Spiritual Peers, the Act states, that the Lord
Chancellor, the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Pre-
sident of the Council, the Lord Privy Seal, the
Great Chamberlain, the Constable, the Lord
Marshal, the Lord Admiral, the Grand Master
or Lord Steward of the Household, the King's
Chamberlain, and tlie King's Secretary, had not
theretofore had a place appointed them in Par-
liament by reason of those Offices, and Precedency
1 State Papers, vol. i. pp. 439, 4?4?2, et passim.
2 Cromwell was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 12th of
April, 24. Hen. VIIL 1533, and on the 12th of April, 25 Hen. VIH. 1534,
he was described as the King's " First Secretary." Foedera, vol. xiv.
pp. 4:56, 536.
3 State Papers, vol. i. p. 4?25.
4 Foedera, vol. xiv. p. 572. Cromwell was still Secretary in May
1536, when, by the title of " our Secretary," he obtained a Prebend
in the Church of Salisbury. Ibid. p. 569.
C6
PREFACE. cxxi
is then assigned to them respectively. The sixth Kisq's
1 • /• 11 Skcretart;
clause is as lollows : —
*' And it is also enacted by authority afore-
^ said, That the King's Chief Secretary, being
of the degree of a Baron of the Parliament,
shall sit and be placed afore and above all
** Barons, not having any of the Offices above
^ mentioned ; and if he be a Bishop, that then
^ he shall sit and be placed above all other
" Bishops, not having any of the Offices above
" remembered."
It is afterwards provided : —
" That all Dukes not afore mentioned. Mar-
" quesses. Earls, Viscounts, and Barons, not having
any of the Offices aforesaid, shall sit and be
placed after their ancienty, as it hath been accus-
" tomed."
It was also enacted, —
" That if any person or persons which at
" any time hereafter shall happen to have any
" of the said Offices of Lord Chancellor, Lord
" Treasurer, Lord President of the King's Coun-
" cil. Lord Privy Seal, or Chief Secretary,
** shall be under the degree of a Baron of the
Parliament, by reason whereof they can have
ho interest to give any assent or dissent in
" the said House, that then, in every such case,
" such of them as shall happen to be under
" the said degree of a Baron, shall sit and be
** placed at the uppermost part of the sacks in
" the midst of the said Parliament Chamber,
(4
i4
cxxii PREFACE.
Kino's « either there to sit upon one form, or upon the
" uppermost sack, the one of them above the
" other, in order as is above rehearsed/*
It was further enacted, —
•' That as well in all Parliaments as in the
" Star Chamber, and in all other Assemblies and
" Conferences of Council, the Lord Chancellor,
" the Lord Treasurer, the Lord President, the
*' Lord Privy Seal, the Great Chamberlain, the
" Constable, the Marshal, the Lord Admiral, the
" Grand Master or Lord Steward, the King's
" Chamberlain, and the King's Chief Secretary,
M shall sit and be placed in such order and fashion
^^ as is above rehearsed, and not in any other place,
^* by authority of this present Act." ^
As the King's Secretary is spoken of in the
singular number, it may be inferred that the Office
was held by one person only; but it is probable
that he was then assisted in his higher duties by
Sir Kalph Sadler, (who certainly conducted the
King's correspondence as early as July 1538 S)
1 Stat SI Hen. Vm. c 10.
' See State Papers, vol. i. pp. 578, 580, 581. That some of the other
Secretaries, and, in their absence, the Clerks of the Signet, occasionally
wrote the King's letters, is evident from a letter from Sir Thomas
Heneage to Wolsey, written at Tittenhanger in 1528, telling him that
the King desired he would send his letters to some Bishops and Abbots,
respecting certain offices, which Sir William Compton had held under
them, <^ to stay them until His pleasure be farther known ; for he neither
** knoweth them, ne hath any Secretaries or other of the Signet here to
" make out his letters." (State Papers, vol. i. p. 306.)
PREFACE. cxxiii
and, in business of little importance, by the Secre- Kino's
tary for the Latin and French languages.^
A very important change soon afterwards
took place in the Office of the King's Principal
Secretary, by the division of it between two per-
sons, who were to bear the same title, perform
the same duties, and hold the same ranL The
Warrant for their appointment has been lately
printed'; and though the date is not stated, it
is evident, from its referring to the Act for Pre-
cedency, that it must have been issued after
April 1539.
The Warrant commences by providing " that
** Thomas Wriothesley and Ralph Sadler, and every
** of them, shall have the Name and Office of
" the King's Majesty's Principal Secretaries during
^^ his Highness's pleasure," and that all fees
belonging to the Office of his Majesty's Prin-
cipal Secretary shall be equally divided between
them. They were to " keep two of his Grace's
iln November, 10 Hen. VII. 1494» and August, 10 Hen.VIIL 1518,
John Meautis was the King's Secretary for the French language.
(Foedera, voL xii. p. 566 ; and vol. xlii. p. 206.) In January 154«1, Thomas
Sentemount had that situation, but he was soon afterwards succeeded by
John Masyn, who was appointed Clerk of the Council, pro tempore^ in
September in that year. (Proceedings of the Council, voLvii. pp.122, 248.)
In the Srd Edw.VI. 1549, Peter Vannes was appointed Latin Secretary
for life, to execute that office himself, or by his sufficient deputy,
(Foedera, vol. xv. p. 200), which appears to have been the first appoint-
ment of a Latin Secretary ; an office which was afterwards dignified by
the occupation of Milton, and which still exists. Vannes was still Latin
Secretary in February 1542.
2 State Papers, vol. L p. 623.
cxxiv* PREFACE.
King's ^^ Seals called his Signets, and seal such things^
CRETARY. ^j nyarrants, and writings, both for inward and
" outward parties, as had been accustomed to be
" passed by them." Each of them was to keep
a Book of such Warrants as passed by either
of their hands, and " the one was to be always
" made privy to the other's Register." They were
both to be lodged in the King's palace, with the
allowances which had been hitherto assigned to
the Secretary. Whenever the Lord Privy Seal was
present in the Court, both the Secretaries were
" to accompany him at his table," and during his
absence they were to have his diet for diemselves,
and such others as were appointed to that table.
In all Councils, as well in the King's Household as
in the Star Chamber, and elsewhere, all Peers and
the Treasurer, Comptroller, Master of the Horse,
and the Vice-Chamberlain were to sit above them ;
but they were to be placed next to the Vice-Cham-
berlain, and above all other Members of the Privy
Council.
Notwithstanding the provision of the Act for
Precedency, that the Principal Secretary should
always sit in the House of Lords upon one of the
woolsacks, yet, in consideration of the services
which Wriothesley and Sadler might render in the
Lower House, where they then had seats, it was
ordered that, during the King's pleasure, they
should both sit on the woolsacks in the House of
Lords, on such days as the King, or the Speaker,
was present ; but that on all other days one of them
PK£FAC£* CXXV
should sit one week in the House of Lords, and Kivo's
SjBC RXT AST
the other in the House of Commons alternately,
except on those days when special matters were
treated of in the Lower House, on which occasions
they were both permitted to attend therein. In
all other places, as well in the King's Household as
elsewhere, they were to enjoy the place of the
Principal Secretary, in the accustomed manner. •
This alteration in the office of King's Principal
Secretary has been supposed to have arisen from
the disgrace of Cromwell, which occurred about the
time when the change took place ^; but however
probable that conjecture may be, there is reason to
believe that the Royal Warrant only carried into
effect an arrangement which had, in fact, for some
time existed, and which closely resembled the ap-
pointment of Dr., King, as coadjutor to Secretary
Hatclyffe, in the reign of Edward the Fourth.^
It is very remarkable, that the Precedency
given to the Principal Secretaries by the King's
Warrant, should be at variance with that assigned to
the Chief Secretary by the Statute of the 31st of
Hen. VIIL, though it is the same that has ever since
been held by the Secretaries of State, when below
the rank of Peers. By the Statute, the Chief Se-
cretary is to be placed in all Parliaments and
Councils next after the King's Chamberlain, and
nothing is said of the Treasurer and Comptroller
of the Household, the Master of the Horse, or the
^ State Papen, Preface, p.xL 3 p.<*ix) aniea.
cxxvi PREFACE.
KiKo'fl Vice-Chamberlain ; but the Warrant states^ that all
Sbcrmtary. ^jj^g^ Officers, as well as all Peers, shall sit above
the Principal Secretaries. Upon the subject of
the King's prerogative in granting Precedency some
doubts have been expressed ; and without entering
into the questions, whether the Statute of the
31st Hen. VIIL had, or was intended to have, any
operation except in Parliaments and Councils, or
whether the Royal Prerogative was, or was not, re-
strained by that Act, it is sufficient to observe that
the Precedency assigned to the Principal Secretaries
by the Statute is the proper rank of a Secre-
tary of State when a Commoner; for not only
have the regulations prescribed by the Warrant
never passed the Great Seal, but even if they had
done so, Letters Patent could not controul the pro-
visions of an Act of Parliament.
It is doubtful how long the arrangement that
the two Principal Secretaries should sit alternately,
or together, in either House of Parliament, sub-
sisted* In the House of Lords they were merely
auditors, and, like the Judges and Masters in
Chancery, might sit therein without creating an
anomaly or inconvenience; but it was evidently
not contemplated that their attendance in the
Lower House should continue after Wriothesley
and Sadler ceased to be Members of the House
of Commons. At this moment, however, the
Principal Secretaries of State have clearly the
right of sitting on the uppermost part of the
sacks in the midst of the House of Lords according
X IvJclr*AC£a CXXvii
to the Statute, " either there to sit upon A form, King's
" or upon the uppermost sack," though the pri-
vilege has been rarely exercised.
• In August 1540, Sir Thomas Wriothesley and
Sir Ealph Sadler were respectively called "the
" King's Principal Secretary,'' and were then both
Privy Councillors. They continued the King's
Secretaries so late as September 1543^; and pro-
bably until Wriothesley was raised to the Peerage,
and made Lord Keeper, in April 1544.
Shortly after Wriothesley's promotion. Re-
gulations were again made for the govern-
ment of the Royal Household ^ wherein a list
occurs of the Officers of State, and of all the
King's servants. Among the Officers are " Sir
" Thomas [William] Paget, Sir William Peter^ and
> Foedera, toL xv. p* 8.
2 These Regulations, which are entitled '^Bouche of Court," are included
in the ** Collection of Ordinances for the Royal Household,** printed
by the Society of Antiquaries in 1790, and exhibit a remarkable in-
stance of editorial carelessness. Notwithstanding every name in the
list of the Officers of the Household proves that the article could not
possibly have been compiled before the 36th Hen. VIII. 1544, it follows,
and is caUed part of, the Ordinances made at Eltham in January,
17 Hen. VIIL 1526. This error is the more glaring from the fact, not
only that the manuscript of the Ordinances made at Eltham clearly shews
that thb article does not belong to them, but it does not even occur in
any part of the volume (Harleian MS. 642), from which it professes to
have been printed.
s It is said that Sir William Peter was made Principal Secretary on
Wriothesley's promotion. (State Papers, vol. i. p. 764.) Sir. William
Paget was described as one of the two Principal Secretaries on th&
96thL of June 1544, and Sir William Peter bore that designation on the
11th of July in the same year. (Foedera, voL xv. pp.30, 46.) In
cxxviu PREFACE.
King's '* Mr. Haire, Secretaries." Sir William Paget, who
Sbcretary
' had been Secretary to the Queen, and Clerk of the
Council S and Sir William Peter, were the two
Principal Secretaries, and Mr. Haire was probably
the French or Latin Secretary.^ It was at the
same time ordered that the two Secretaries should
sit in their own chambers, and be served by their
own servants ; and their allowance for diet was set-
tled ^ the annual expence of which amounted to
the large sum, for that period, of £S13^
From the year 1540 to the present time, there
have been sometimes two Principal Secretaries, and
occasionally there have been, as at present, no less
than three. The first instance of there being three
Principal Secretaries was in June 1553, when Sir
John Cheke was appointed, in addition to Sir
William Peter and Sir William Cecill.^
The documents printed in the Foedera tend
to shew, that for many years after the accession
of Queen Elizabeth, there was only one Prin-
cipal Secretary. Sir William Cecill, afterwards
the celebrated Lord Burleigh, held that Office for
many years, and on being made Lord Treasurer
January 1547, Sir William Paget -was styled " Chief of Your Majesty *»
"<< two Principal Secretaries," (State Papers, voL L p. 897.)
1 Proceedings of the Council, vol. vii. pp. % 248.
2 Regulations of the Household, p. 165. ^ Ibid. pp. 172, 188.
4 Ibid. p. 192.
^ State Papers, toL i. p. xL On the 12th of April in that year, hovr-
ever, Sir William Cecill was described as " one of our tico Secreta riesw'*
Foedera, vol. xv. p. 330.
PREFACE. cxxix
and a Peer in 1571, he was succeeded by Sir Tho- ^ King's
•^ _ Secretary.
mas Smith, who was followed by Sir Francis
Walsingham. In 1578 Dr. Wilson became Joint
Principal Secretary, and that situation was filled by
the unfortunate Davison in October 1586,
No earlier instance has been discovered of the
use of the title "Secretary of State ^^^ than in
February, 43 Eliz, 1601, when Sir Robert Cecil!
was styled "our Principal Secretary of Estate."
His coadjutor was John Herbert, Esquire, who is
described in the same instrument as one of " our
" Secretaries of Estate."^ In the next reign the
title became generally adopted, in its more modern
term, of " Secretary of State."
During the reign of King James the First,
there were at one period three Principal Secre-
taries called " Secretaries of State j" and mention is
made of a Secretary for Scotland, and of an "Under
" Secretary," as well as of the Queen's Secretary^
^ It would appear, from the manner in which the two Principal
Secretaries are described in the Commission for the trial of Mary
Queen of Scots, dated on the 6th of October ISBSy that the appellation
of ^ Secretary of State^ was not then used. Among the Commissioners
were ** Sir Francis Walsingham, one of our Principal Secretaries, and
<« another of our Privy Council," and << William Davison, Esquire,
<< another of our Principal Secretaries, and of the Privy Council."
John WoUey, the Latin Secretary, was then also a person of some
consideratioo, for he was a Privy CounciUor, and was one of the
Commissioners for Mary's trial.
' Foedera, voL xvi. p. S99.
9 ^ Sir John Herbert, our Under Secretary ;" *< Sir James Elvaston,
«* Knight, our Secretary for Scotland ; " " Mr. Fowler, Secretary to our
« dear bedfellow." Ordinances for the King's Household, (17th July to
Jan. 1. 1604^) p. 307. .
TOL. VI. i
Cxxx PREFACE.
King's who was described as the " Queen's Principal
' " Secretary and Master of Requests.*'^
In the time of Queen Elizabeth the annual
fee or salary of the Principal Secretary was d£lOO,
with a table ; of the Secretary in the Latin tongue
jC40, with a table ; and of the Secretary in the
French tongue, £66, 13*. 4rf., but he was not pro-
vided with a table ^; and no alteration seems to
have been made in those salaries and allowances
until after the Revolution of 1689.^ In the reign
of William and Mary the first Principal Secretary
was allowed £730 per annum for his " board
" wages,'' whilst his colleague received only £292/
The co-existence of more than two Secretaries
of State is said to have been only ^^ a casual deviation
*^ from the usual practice," until the Union with
Scotland, "when the number was professedlyin-
" creased to three ;" and the following statement
is also taken from the preface to the State Papers,
lately printed by a Commission issued in 1830 for
the publication of the more valuable documents
in the State Paper Office : —
" Soon after the Union with Scotland the
" number of Secretaries of State was professedly
" increased to three. Queen Anne, on the 3rd
" of February 1708, declared in Council, that the
1 Collection of Ordinances for the Royal Household, 4to. 1790, p. S50.
3 Ibid. p. 250. These allowances appear to have been independent of
Fees.
> Vide Peck's Desiderata Curiosa,p.58; Archseologia, yoLxv.p. 77;
and the Additional MS. in the British Museam, 4610. f. 17.
^ Collection of Ordinances for the Royal Household^ p. 406.-
PREFACE. cxxxi
" public business increasing, her Majesty had King's
" thought fit to appoint a third Secretary of
" State of Great Britain, but that she intended
^ nevertheless, to continue the Foreign Affairs,
^ for the present, in the course of dispatch
" they were then in ; and on the same day
'' James Duke of Queensberry was sworn one of
" her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State,"^
" He and his successors were esteemed Secre-
* taries of State for Scottish affairs ; but the prao-
** tice of appointing such an Officer was disconti-
* nued in 1746, when John Marquis of Tweeddale
^ resigned the Seals ; and there were only two
" Secretaries of State 'till the 20th of January
" 1768, when William Earl of Shelbume, being
Secretary of State, and' Mr. Seymour Conway
having resigned that Office, Thomas Viscount
^ Weymouth, and Wills Earl of Hillsborough were
" sworn Secretaries of Stated the latter becoming
** a third Secretary, and being destined to act
^ for the Colonies. But by the Statute 22 Geo. III.
** a 82. * the Office commonly called or known by
^ * the name of Third Secretary of State, or Secre-
" 'tary of State for the Colonies,' was, among
^ others, suppressed and abolished ; and from that
^ time the number of Secretaries of State remained
« two, until the 11th of July 1794, when William
" Henry Duke of Portland was made a Secretary
^ of State^ in addition to William Wyndham, Lord
1 « Council Register."
i 2
cxxxii PREFACE.
Kikg's '^ Grenville, and Henry Dundas. And the number
' " has since that period been constantly three.*'
It appears from the preceding statements, that
although the Office of King's Secretary has always
been held by confidential persons, selected on ac-
count of their talents, yet that for many centuries
it bore little resemblance, either in its duties or
responsibility, to that of a Secretary of State in
modern times. While learning was to be found
only in the cloister, the King's Secretary was a
priest ; and a layman never appears to have held
that situation until the middle of the reign of King
Henry the Eighth. After a few years service he
was frequently promoted to the office of Keeper of
the Privy Seal, and was sometimes rewarded with
a Mitre. He was originally appointed by the
delivery of the King's Signet; and that circum-
stance, unlike the delivery of the Great Seal, was
not recorded, or necessarily performed in the pre-
sence of witnesses. No Patent was issued for the
appointment of a Principal Secretary (except for
the French and Latin languages) until the year
1578 ; and it is therefore very difficult to ascertain
the names of the various persons who have held
that situation. In January in that year Dr. Tho-
mas Wilson was appointed one of the Principal
Secretaries, by Patent^ since which time the Secre-
1 As that Patent is the earliest which is known to have been issued
to a Secretary of State, a copy of it is subjoined : —
** Regina omnibus ad quos &c. salutem. Sciatis quod nos de fidelitate
'< indttstria prudentia experientia et aliis virtutibus egregiis dilecti et
PREFACE. cxxxiii
taries of State have been usuallV) if not always, Kino's
appointed by Patent, after receiving the Signet
from the King^s hands.
Though the first of the King's Secretaries, of
whom the name has been discovered, was a Mem-
ber of the Council, it was not until towards the
middle of Henry the Sixth's reign that they were
* fiddis Consiliarii nostri Thomae Wybon armigeri plurimum confidentes
** ^)5iim Thomam Wilson unum Secretariorum nostrorum Primariorum
« nominamus ordinamus et constituimus per pnesentes. Habendum et
** gandendum Officium unius Secretariorum nostrorum Primariorum
" prsedictorum prsefato Thorns Wilson cum omnibus commoditatibus
'' praeeminentiis locis dignitatibus allocationibus et emoluments quibus-
** eomque eidem Officio spectantibus sive pertinentibus durante ben<^
** fbuato nofltro. £t ulterius dedimus et concessimus ac per praesentes
<* damus et concedimus eidem Thomae Wylson erga supportacionem
^ onerum snorum sibi ratione Officii praedicti incumbentium quandam
«« amrahalem sive annualem redditum centum librarum Habendum
*^ gandendum et percipiendum dictam annuitatem sive anniudem red-
** ditum centum librarum praefato Thomas Wylson a festo Sancti
^ Midiaelis Archangeli ultimo praeterito ante datam praesentium durante
" Tita sua de thesauro nostro haeredum et successorum nostrorum ad
^ Receptam Scaccarii nostri Westmonasterii haeredum et successorum
** nostronun per manus Thesaurarii et Camerariorum ejusdem ad
** qnatoor anni terminos videlicet ad festa Natalis Domini Annuntia*
** tionis Beatae Mariae Virginis Nativitatis Sancti Johannb Baptistae et
** Sancti Michaelis Archangeli per equales portiones solvendum absque
** nllo compoto aut aliquo alio nobis haeredibus vel successoribus nostris
** reddendo sive solvendo. Praecipimus etiam ac per praesentes eisdem
*^ ThesauTBrio et Camerariis pro tempore existentibus mandamus quod
** de thesauro nostro haeredum et successorum nostrorum in custodia sua
<* pro tempore ezistente dictam annuitatem sive annualem redditum
'^ centum librarum eidem Thomae Wylson armigero et assignatis suis
** solutionem fieri facient de festo in festum secundum vim formam et
«( effectum hujos nostrae concessionis. £o quod expressa mentio &Ck
** In cujus rei &c. Teste Regina apud Westmonasterium quinto die
^ JanuariL Per breve de Private SlgilloJ*
Rot. Pat., 20 Eliz. pari 10^
i 3
CXXXiv PREFACE.
King's always Privy Councillors. As the affairs of the
Country were then conducted entirely by the King
and his Continual or Privy Council, his Secretary,
when a Member of the Council, of course shared
«
the responsibility of the other Councillors; but
except in being one of the King's Councillors,
he was a mere executive Oflficer, answerable only
to the Sovereign himself for the manner in which
he performed duties involving no Constitutional
responsibility, and consisting merely in a faithful
and implicit obedience to the King's commands.
The duties of the King's Principal Secretary seem,
therefore, formerly to have more closely resembled
those of the King's Private Secretary ^ than those
of the Secretaries of State, of the present day.
1 As the situation of King's Private Secretary is of a peeoHar
nature, and has been the subject of discussion in the House of Commons^
a few observations respecting it will be expected in this place. It appears
that the first Sovereign who employed a Private Secretary, since the Re-
volution at least, was King George the Third, to whom a confidential person
in that capacity was absolutely necessary on his Majesty's becoming afflicted
with the loss of sight When his late Majesty, George the Fourth, be*
came Regent, and Colonel Mac Mahon, a Privy Councillor, was appointed
his Private Secretary, with a salary of ^2,000 per annum, the subject
was brought before the House of Commons on the 14th of April 1812,
and caused an animated and important debate. It was contended that
such an Office was dangerous and unconstitutional, as it must inevitably
render the person holding it a secret adviser of the King, with a degree
of influence over the Royal mind inconsbtent with the forms of Gorem-
ment in this country, and destructive of a fundamental principle of tlie
Constitution, namely, that no one can use the name of the Sovereign, offer
Him advice, or convey His commands, except he be one of the respon*
sible Ministers of the Crown, answerable to Parliament for his conduct.
But it was said, on the other hand, that the Office was not one of
responsibility ; but was precisely like that of any other Private Secretary
PREFACE. CXXXV
Although the Office of the King's Principal ^ Kino's
^ /» Secretary.
Secretary has gradually become one of the most
important in the Government, it is not easy to
state precisely when, or under what circumstances,
the change took place. The commencement of the
reign of Henry the Eighth may, perhaps, be con-
sidered as the period when the King's Secretary
became an Officer of great consideration, because
the situation was then held, for the first time, by a
person of the rank of Bishop ; it having always been
usual for its possessor to resign the Office on being
raised to the Episcopal bench. Dr. Kouthale, who
had been Secretary to Henry the Seventh, retained
that employment, however, for nearly six years
after he became Bishop of Durham ; and it is not
imlikely that the office itself was raised in estimation
from being held by a Prelate of his eminent station
and abilities.
m any other Office of the State, differing only in the rank of the personage
under whom it was held ; that it was only an instrument for carrying on
the business of the Country ; that if the appointment was not divested
of aA responnbility there would be nothing to justify it in the view of the
Pariiament ; and it was particularly stated by Lord Castlereagh, Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, that the individual holding it was '< incom-
** petent to communicate the pleasure of the King in any way that
^ could authorize any subject in the land to attend to it, or to act upon
*^ it with official responsibility." ( Vide Cobbett's Parliamentary De-
bates.} The attempt to prevent Colonel Mac Mahon's appointment
having been defeated upon a division, by a Ministerial majority of 176 to
100, there has ever since been a Private Secretary to the King ; and as
many of the Statesmen who, in 1812, considered the situation improper,
have subsequently held Office, and have not made any efforts for its abo-
lition, it may, perhaps, be inferred that they have not found its existence
ineonvenient in practice, however unconstitutional it may appear in theory.
i 4r
cxxxvi PREFACE.
King's In the reigns of Edward the Sixth, Queen
Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, the duty of the
Principal Secretaries was still very different
from that of their more recent successors, and
their authority very inferior. Perhaps the change
may be assigned to the period when the affairs
of the Country were conducted by the Cabinet,
instead of the Privy Council, an imperium in im-
perio which followed the Revolution of 1689,
and which concentrated all the powers of the
Crown in a few, instead of being divided among
many of its advisers. To whatever^ causes the
alteration in the nature of the Office of Principal
Secretary may be ascribed, it took place without
any express Law; and that fact affords another
proof of the manner in which the Constitution
has accommodated itself to circumstances, and of
the difficulty of tracing, even the functions and
powers of some of the highest Officers of the
Crown, to any defined or legal source. Without
Letters Patent, much less an Act of the Legisla-
ture, (instruments which are necessary for the
creation of, and appointment to, many of the hum-
blest Public offices,) the King's Secretary, from
being little more than the clerical instrument for
conveying his Sovereign's commands, has become
one of the most influential Ministers of State,
whose signature is absolutely requisite to legalize
nearly every act of the Crown ; whose authority
to use the King's name cannot be disputed by
any one, except by the King himself; who is
PREFACE. cxxxvii
answerable with his liberty and life to Parliament King'*
for the Constitutional and judicious exercise of
the Prerogatives of the Crown ; and who, in the
present distribution of the Office among three
individuals of co-ordinate authority, performs most
of the functions of the Government, with, all but,
undefinable powers and unlimited authority.
When the origin and history of the Office are
considered, it is not surprising that the right of a
Secretary of State to act in a Magisterial capacity,
in cases which involved the liberty of the subject,
should have been doubted, or that the determination
of a Court of Law in favour of that right^ should
have been afterwards questioned,^ It was clear
that his powers were derived neither from the
Common, nor the Statute Law ; and though, from
J See the case of the King v. Rowe and Kendall, in the reign of William
tiie Third, Comberbach, 343 ; 1 Salkeld, 347 ; 12 Modem, 82.
^ The suliject is fully treated of in some papers under the title of
''The Craitsman," in the Gentleman's Magazine, in the years 1731 and
17S% ToLL p. 477; toL ii. pp.914, 941. The powers of a Secretary
of State on points of this nature were much discussed in the case
of the celebrated John Wilkes in 1763, with reference to General
Warrants. Lord Chief Justice Pratt cautiously refrained from attri-
buting to the Office the authority upon which Lords Halifax and
Egremont acted. In giving judgment he said, *< he should consider
** a Secretary of State's Warrant, through the whole afiair, as nothing
" superior to the Warrant of a common Justice of the Peace;** and
though it was contended that the Warrant issued on that occasion
was ** according to the uninterrupted practice of the Secretary of State's
" Office," it was said, that no Warrants of a similar form could be
found, after a diligent search, before the reign of the Stuarts, and very
few before the time of Lord Arlington, who was Secretary of State to
Charles the Second. Ibid, vol. xxxiii. p. 242 ; vol. xxxiv. p. 622.
cxxxviii PREFACE,
Eiifo's analogy, the right of commitment was held by
* Lord Chief Justice Holt to be incidental to the
Office, there would have been some difficulty in
finding a precedent for the decision.^
To the preceding remarks on the anomalous,
if not dangerous, situation of a Minister, who is
obliged to exercise great powers without his autho-
rity being defined, it is satisfactory to be able
to add the corroborative opinion of an eminent
Statesman, who had experienced the difficulties
and perils of such a position. Sir Robert Cecill, the
first Earl of Salisbury, who was Secretary of State
to Queen Elizabeth and James the First, wrote
a tract^, entitled " The State and Dignity of a
" Secretary's of Estates Place, with the Care and
•* Peril thereof,*' which commences with the fol-
lowing observation : —
" All Officers and Councillors of Princes have
" a prescribed Authority by Patent, by Custom, or
" by Oath^ the Secretary^ only excepted ; but to
" the Secretary, out of a confidence and singular
" affisction, there is a liberty to negotiate at dis-
" cretion, at home and abroad, with fi*iends and
" enemies, in all matters of speech and intelli-
1 See Searcher's case, temp. Eliz., 1 Leonard, 70.
2 This tract, which consists only of four leaves, was printed in 164*2.
There are several manuscript copies of it in the British Museum, the
one in the Harleian MS. 354. being called " The State of a Secretary's
« place, and the PerilL"
s It is not known when the Secretaries of State first took an oath of
Office ; but *< the Oath of a Secretary of State,'' occurs in a curioua
collection entitled << The Book of Oatha,'* ISmo, printed in 1649.
PREFACE.
CXXXIX
^ ffence. All Servants of Princes deal upon strons King's
. . SXCRXTABT.
^ and wary authority, and warrant disbursements
^ as Treasurers, in conference with enemies as
^ General, in Commissions in executing Offices by
^ Eatent and Instructions, and so in whatsoever
" else ; only a Secretary hath no warrant of Com-
^ mission, no not in matters of his own/' Lord
Salisbury afterwards says: — " On the other side
*^ the place of a Secretary is dreadful if he serve
^ not a constant Prince; for he that liyeth by
** trust ought to serve tridy, so he that lives at
" mercy ought to be careful in the choice of his
^ master, that he be just and de bond naturd.^
All that need be added on the subject in
this place, is the following extract from the preface
to the volume of " State Papers " already cited : —
" The Secretaries of State are still constituted,
** as in ancient times, by the King's delivery to them
^ of the Seals of Office ; but, in addition to this
" investiture, they have always in modem times
" received also a Patent under the Great Seal,
" This was certainly the case, as early as the ap-
" pointment of Dr. Wilson, in 1578, and probably
" earlier. Whatever be their number, they con-
" stitute but one Officer, and are co-ordinate and
equal in rank and authority. Each is competent
to execute any part of the duties of the Secretary
" of State, the ordinary division of those duties
" between them being merely matter of arrange-
" ment, for the more convenient dispatch of
" business. From an early period to 1782, the two
€4
Cxl PREFACE.
King's " Departments were denominated the Northern and
ECRETARY. ^^ gouthem. In that year a new distribution was
" made, and the Departments were styled the Home
" and the Foreign, of which the former attended
*' to the Colonial affairs until the revival of the third
" Secretaryship, in 1794, when the superintendence
" of the Colonies was taken from the Home Secre-
" tary, and conducted in the new office, which
" likewise carried on the correspondence arising
^' out of the war, then in progress.*'^
Upon other subjects connected with the duties
of the King's Secretary, at an early period, as well
as with an important question which is illustrated
by the Ordinance of the Council before referred to,
some observations remain to be made.
THE GREAT SEAL.
The Great The progress of Constitutional liberty in this
Seal* Country is shewn, not so much by the actual
restraints that have been imposed upon the powers
of the Crown, as by the efforts which have been
made to render the King's advisers responsible to
Parliament, that those powers shall be exercised
in conformity with Law and Expediency ; and this
object has been principally obtained by the ap^
pointment of one or more Officers of State, whose
sanction and concurrence are absolutely necessary
to give effect to the Royal commands.
1 State Papers, vol. i, p. xiL
PREFACE- cxli
In common with most of his subjects S the The Great
King has from a very early period attested every
solemn act, by affixing to the instrument either
his greater or smaller Seal, according to its im-
portance. When the manner of conducting the
Government became better understood, and a re-
straint, however trifling, was imposed upon the
Eoyal Pleasure, the highest responsibility was
ihiown upon the Officer who had the custody of
the Great Seal, the " Clavis Regni,'' as it is hap-
pily called by Lord Coke^ without which no mea-
sure of any consequence could be carried into
effect. In England this duty has always been
performed by the King's Chancellor, who is con-
sequently the highest Civil Officer in the King-
dom, or by the Keeper of the Great Seal. Though
a Seal was n(ecessary to give validity even to the
most trifling of the King's written commands,
it was long before much importance was at^
tached to the Privy Seal, or to the Royal Signet,
or to those other small Seals, which were occa-
sionally affixed to the King's Letters and Warrants.
Satisfied that the Royal Prerogative, in matters
Injurious to the property or liberties of the people,
1 See Prynne's ^< Opening of the Great Seal," a tract printed by order
of the House of Commons in 164S, 4to. p. 16. There is also a tract
on the Kingfs Seals, entitled, ^Jus Sigilli, or the Law of England
« touching the four principal Seals," S^mo. 1673 ; but it contains little
that is not in Coke's Institutes, and that little is of no value. A curious
allusion to the << Great Seal*' of the Earl of Northumberland will be
found in the Proceedings of the Council, yol. i. pp. 214, 217.
> 2 Inst p. 552.
Thb Great could only be exercised with the sanction of the
highest Officer in the Eealm, the attention of the
Legislature was for some time directed only to
the security and integrity of the Great Seal, The
most ancient writers on the Law declared it to
be high treason to counterfeit it^; and in the
28th Edw. I., it was enacted that no Writ relating
to the Common Law should henceforth issue under
the Privy Seal ^; but notwithstanding this judicious
provision, the Crown made several attempts to
render the Privy Seal, and even the King's Signets,
of equal authority to the Great Seal.
The Privy Seal was in the custody of the
Clerk of the Privy Seal, who was sometimes called
the Keeper, and afterwards Lord Privy Seal^,
who was a Member of the King's Council as
early as the reign of Edward the Third, and
who was then, if not before, a responsible Mi-
nister of the Crown, The Signet, and perhaps
the other small Seals, which will be again alluded
to, were always kept by the King's Secretary, or
by the King himself.
Soon after the accession of King Richard the
Second, the Commons complained that the due
course of Law had been impeded by the King's
Letters issued under the Privy Seal or secret
Signet, to the great grievance of the people *; and
1 Bracton, lib. 2. Britton, cap. 8. Glanville, lib. xiv. c 7* See also the
'* Close Rolls,'* voL L pp. xxxiii, 15, 32.
2 Stat 28 Edw. I. e. 2. See Coke's Second Institute, pp. 554, 55ify.
8 2 Inst p. 55i!. * Rot Pari., 1 Ric. 11. 1377, vol. iii. p. 23.
PREFACE. CxUii
a Statute was passed in the 11th Ric IL, strictly ThkGrbat
prohibiting that practice,^
The illegality of interrupting the administra-
tion of Justice by Royal Warrants, and allowing
the King's Signet or Privy Seal to usurp the func-
tions of the Great Seal, did not, however, cease
with the Statute of the 11th Ria IL In 1389 the
Coinmons exhibited a Bill in Parliament, contain*
ing a list of numerous grievances, which they prayed
the King to remedy. One of their complaints
was the practice of too readily granting Charters
of Pardon in cases of treason, murder, and rape ;
and they requested that Pardons might not in
fiiture be granted at the solicitation of any one ;
that certain fines should be imposed on those
Peers and Officers of the Household who applied
for them ; that ^' in every Bill indorsed, and sealed
^^ under the Signet, and sent to the Keeper of the
^ Privy Seal, the name of him who applied for the
^ Charter should be inserted ; and that no Charter
" should pass the Chancellor without Warrant of
" Privy SeaL" The King consented to these pro-
positions, but to the clause that <^no Charter of
^ Pardon of treason or other felony should pass
^ the Chancellor without warrant of Privy Seal,"
he added, " except in cases where the Chan-
" celJor may grant by his Office without speaking
" to the King."^ From these and other abuses
1 Rot. Pail, 11 Ric II. 18S7, voLiii. p. 247; and Stat 11 Ric II. c 10.
> nmL, 13 Ric II. vol ui. p. d6S.
cxliv PR£FAC£>
The Great of the Royal authority such general discontent
arose as led to the impeachment of Richard's
Ministers; and the proceedings on the occasion
form one of the earliest and most valuable pre-
cedents in English history, for insisting that the
Royal Prerogative shall be exercised in a Consti-
tutional and Lawful manner. Unhappily, however,
for Richard, he did not discover from the fate of
his Ministers that Parliament was resolved to trace
the evil to its source. He was consequently driven
from his Throne, leaving in the history of his
reign an impressive lesson, which cannot be too
often read by the student of the Constitutional
History of this country.
There is one circumstance, which, though
trifling in itself, tends to shew that Richard the
Second attached the highest value to the instru-
ment by which he was desirous of governing his
Dominions ; and that he considered it as the symbol
of Regal authority. On declaring in full Parliar-
ment that he had resigned the Throne in favour
of Henry Duke of Lancaster, " he took from his
*' finger his gold ring of the Signet of the Patents,"
and placing it on Henry's finger, as a token that
his resignation was complete, said that he wished
the fact to be made known to all the estates of
the Realm. ^
I << Et in signum suae intentionis et voluntatis hujusmodi, annulum auri
« de signeto suo Patentium de digito suo tunc ibidem extraxit et digito
<< dicti Ducis apposuit, desiderans hoc ipsum ut asseruit omnibus regni
" statibufl innotesci," Rot. Pari,, 1 Hen, IV. 1399, voLiii. p. 4-17.
PREFACE. cxiv
Richard^s illegal proceedings, in endeavouring Th^ Great '
to ^ve to Warrants under his Signet, and to Let-
ters under his Privy Seal, equal and even greater
authority than to Letters Patent or Charters under
his Great Seal, proved a salutary warning to his
successor.
It was among the Petitions of the Commons,
in the Parliament which recognized Henry the
Fourth as King, that all releases and pardons
granted by Richard the Second, prejudicial to
the interests of the Prince of Wales, as Duke of
Corawall, might be annulled. The King replied,
that all pardons and grants issued under the Great
Seal should remain in force, but that all which had
been granted under the Signet^ or other such small
Scab, or verhaUy^ should be entirely repealed ^ ;
thus shewing respect only for such acts of the
late King as had been legally carried into effect.^
* RoL Par]^ 1 Hen. IV. 1399, vol. iii. p. 442.
^ The following letter from the Clerk of the Crown to the Chancellor, in
the Ist Hen. IV. 1400, also shews the importance which was then attached
to the lawful use of the King's Seals.
** Tresre^ent f ' 1 men fshonore f '', je me reeomank a vous
•* en tant come je puis. Dautre part voilletz savoir q nre
** Wedoute f le Roy est ensy enforme, loiez soit Dieu, qil ne
^ voet ensealer ovesq, le Seal qil ad en sa garde nufi chose q touche
'^ la Coeleys, mes il m'ad comaunde de rescevr les geSalx attomes
" de toutz ceux q irrount ovesq, luy en fiscoce, sicome il vous ad
** 8tifie par son ire desouz sou signet come je seu enfo^me. Par
** quoy voilletz savoir q jay resceu les geSalx attornes de Robert
" Lytton, William Brokesby, John Swett, esquiers, sicome par une
** bille enclose deins ycestes pluys pleynment poet apparoir, T; p'
** tant vo? humblement supplie q vo^ voilletz comaunder q les dita
VOL. VI. k
cxlvi PREFACE.
The Great A still more remarkable instance of Henry
Seal.
the Fourth's adherence to Constitutional principles,
and which is, perhaps, the first Parliamentary
record of the responsibility of Ministers of the
Crown, occurred a few years afterwards. In May
1406, the King, having taken into his consider-
ation the numerous claims upon his time and at-
tention, in the affairs of the Kingdom, appointed
three Bishops, six temporal Peers, the Chancellor,
the Treasurer, the Keeper of the Privy Seal, the
Steward and Chamberlain of his Household, and
three other persons, Members of his Privy Coun-
cil ; and commanded them to exert themselves as
much as possible in promoting the welfare, and
in maintaining the Laws and Statutes, of the
Realm. The King then directed that all Bills
indorsed by the Chamberlain, and Letters under
the Signet addressed to the Chancellor, Treasurer,
and Keeper of the Privy Seal, should thenceforward
be indorsed by, or be written with the advice of, the
Council. The Chancellor, Treasurer, and Keeper
of the Privy Seal, and other Officers were not
^^ ge&alx attomes soient faitz en ma&e accustume. Aufs ne vo^ say •
** escrire a psent, mes q le benoit Trinite vo^ ottrois bon vie t
<* sauncte de corps, *l longe a durer. Escript a Pontfreyt, le*
" xxiij. jo' de Juyn, en a foul hast
" Tout le ^re Svant,
** James Billyngford.'*
« A ?sre9ent f ' t sou fehono'e t
< Sire Jolin Scarle Chauneeller Dengle?re,"
Ex orig, in Turn LoDdon.
PREFACE. cxlvii
to grant any Charters of Pardon, or Collations to The Great
Benefices except with the advice of the Council j
and for the greater security and independence of
its Members, the important condition was added^
that they might resign whenever they found them-
selves unable to perform their duties with advan-
tage to the King's service, without their retirement
exciting his displeasure.^
Besides the Great Seal, the Privy Seal, and
the Signet, King Henry the Fifth frequently used
Another Seal, called "the Signet of the Eagle,"
on which an Eagle with two heads was engraved.
The earliest notice of that Seal, which was derived
from the honor of the Eagle in Sussex, a part of the
Duchy of Lancaster^, is in 1415, when it was affixed
to a Codicil to the King's WilL* A Signet was
also occasionally used by King Edward the Third,
called the "Signet of the Griffon"*; and these
were, probably, the " other small Seals" alluded to
by Henry the Fourth in 1399.^
' Rot ParL, yoL iii. p. 572. Lord Lovell, who was appointed a mem-
ber of the Council on that occasion, prayed to be, and was, excused from
senring, because he had certain suits pending in the Courts of Law,
which, he said, would prevent his performing his duty ^* honestement**
Ihid. p. 57S.
3 Proceedings of the Privy Council, voL v. p. 60 ; and Bishop Beck-
ington's Journal, Svo, 1828, pp. 113^ 129, 130, where the Signet of the
Eagle is engraved.
« FcBdeia, voL ix. p. 299. * Und. vol. v. pp. 106, 236.
* p. cxlv, aniea. The following Petition to Parliament in the 4 Hen. VI.,
relatiJig to the Seals of Henry the Fourth, is curious :
** A toutz les Seignrs eq)irituelx T; tempelx en cest psent Par-
^ lement esteauntz Supplie humblement vre simple 1 pove
k 2
cxlviii PREFACE.
The Great The Enrolment on the Public Records, or.
Seal.
to use a more familiar expression, the Regis-
tration of the written Acts of the Sovereign,
commences with the reign of King John. As all
the most solemn and important of those Acts
were passed under the King's Great Seal, the
History of the Great Seal is contemporaneous with
the record of the documents to which it was affixed ;
and, for many centuries, the public muniments
present numerous notices of its delivery and cus-
tody. Whilst, comparatively speaking, little regard
has been shewn, as a matter of record, to the
movements of the King, except when he quitted
^ oratrice Emote qe fuist la feme Jobn Esmond, orfe^e de Lon^
^ dres, qe come au dit Jobn sont duez certeins somes de moneye,
•* pur la facion 1 mutaeion di9ses Sealx del & noble Roy Henry
** Quarte, qe Dleu assoille, aiel Sre dit sr le Roy q'or est, qe
^' Dieu garde, par son comandement demesne en sa chambre;
** e'est assavoir, pur la facion d'lm grant piere Sealx d'or 1. li.
^^ Item pur I'amendement 1 mutaeion des none dez Grant Sealx
** patents d'argent, c s. Item, pur la &isure d*un Prive Seal d*or,
" ove un cheine 1 ridell' de longure deux vergez x. li. Item, pur
" I'amendement 1 mutaeion trois peire Sealx patents d'argent ; c'est
^' assavoir, un pur le Bank le Roy, Taut' pur le Coe Bank, 1 le
" tierce pur I'Escheker du Roy, iiii. li. Item pur I'amendement
" 1 mutaeion deux Sealx pur Caleis, 1 im pur Gu}nnes, vi. ti.
** Item, pur la &isure d'un Signet d'or pur le Secretaire, xiii. §•
" iiii. d." The Petitioner concluded by praying for payment of
the sums due to her. Rot. Pari., voL iv. p. 312 a.
Among the effects of Henry the Fifth were four gold Signets, some of
which were ornamented with precious stones ; but these were probably
rings with seals engraved with devices, and not the Signet used for War*
rants and Letters by his Secretary. Rot Pari., 2 Hen. VI. vol. iv. p. 21 5i
PREFACE. cxlix
the Kealm. and whilst none has ever been paid to "^"JJ Great
. ^ . Seal.
custody of the Crown, even though it be the peculiar
emblem of Sovereignty, and is, metaphorically, the
representative of Monarchical authority, the Great
Seal has very rarely been placed by the King in
the hands of his Chancellor, or in those of any
other person, even for a single day, without the fact
being recorded.
Although the materials for writing a History
of the Great Seal are abundant and authentic,
there are many curious particulars respecting it
which have not been collected; much less have
the deductions been drawn from them, in illus-
tration of Constitutional questions, of which they
are susceptible. This circumstance is in itself
remarkable; but it becomes still more extraordi-
nary when it is remembered that the functions of
the Great Seal, and of its Keepers, have been
treated of by Coke and Selden ; and that the in-
defatigable Prynne has omitted to notice many of
the &cts alluded to, although his learned tract on
the subject was thought worthy of being printed
by order of the House of Commons.
The following observations will, therefore, it
is hoped, in some degree at least, supply this
deficiency in Legal literature.
The Great Seal has always been spoken of,
as if it were of that integral and individual nature
that it did not admit of a co-existent instrument
capable of performing its functions ; as if it were
inseparable from the person of the King, or of his
k 3
d PREFACE.
The Great Chancellor, Lord Keeper, or other persons en-
trusted with it ; and as if its name had never been
given to any other of the King's Seals. It has
also been supposed that the Great Seal could not
be used except by the hands of the Chancellor,
Lord Keeper, or Commissioners, so as to ensure
a Ministerial responsibility that it would not be
affixed to any instrument of an illegal or uncon-r
stitutional description.
From the following facts, it is, however, un-
questionable, that the Great Seal has neither always
accompanied the King when he went out of the
Realm, nor been left in the possession of the Chan-
cellor, Lord Keeper, or Commissioners during his
absence ; that it has occasionally been taken with
the King or left in his Treasury, and that anothen
Seal was created for the affairs of the Country,
whilst the original Great Seal was taken abroad, or
its use suspended, in consequence of the King's
absence ; that in the reign of Edward the Third,
this temporary Seal also bore the name of the
" Great Seal ;" that in the time of Henry the Sixth
there were no less than three Seals which were so
designated j tjiat on many occasions the Great Seal
was taken from the Chancellor by the King, and
affixed to instruments which, it is presumed, that
Officer had refused to seal, the Seal being restored
to him as soon as such instruments were executed ;
and, that as well in reference to these facts as to
others, many erroneous opinions have prevailed in
relation to the Great Seal, tending, in various
PREFACE. cli
ways, to shew the extreme absurdity of making The Great
ancient usages the standard of propriety and right
in relation to the wishes, feelings, and necessities
of the present age.
Except notices of the delivery of the Great John,
Seal to the Chancellor in the reign of King
John^, and the statement of the King in 1213,
that he had sealed his Letter to the Archdeacon of
Durham, and another person, (directing them in
what manner to dispose of his hounds,) with his
Private Seal, because his Great Seal was not with
him% the earliest Record respecting it, which has
been printed, is in the 3rd of Henry the Third. Heniy in.
It was then provided by the Common Council of
the Realm, that no Charter or Letters Patent of con-
firmation, alienation, sale, or grant, or of any thing
granted in perpetuity, should be sealed with the
King's Great Seal until he became of age ; and that
if any such were sealed with that Seal they should
be void ; from which time, according to the words
of the Record, that "King's Seal began to run." ^
' In October, 7 John, 1205, the King granted his Chancery, with all
its appurtenances, to Walter de Grai, for the sum of 5,000 marks, to
libld the same so long as he might live. (Rot. Fine, 7 John, m. 10 d.
Carte Antiquse in Turr. London. B. B. Rot 22.) In the 31st Hen. I.,
Geoffrey, the King's Chancellor, paid a fine of ^3,006 ISs. Aed, for the
Seal. Rot Pipe, eod. ann.
^ Rot Claus., 15 John. Baker's History of Northamptonshire, vol.ii.
p. 82.
3 « Primae Literaa Novi Sigilli Domini Regis de Cartis vel Literi.«^
**• Patentibus non faeiendis. £t hie incepit Sigillum Domini Regis
« currere." Rot. Pat. 3 Hen. III. m. 6 ; Madox's History of the Exche-
quer, voL i. p. 68.
k 4
clii PREFACE.
T.IE Great In June, 16 Hen. III. 1232, the King granted
oJEAI*» _
to " Ralph Bishop of Chichester, Chancellor, the
" Chancery of England during the whole tenn of
" his life, with all the appurtenances, liberties, and
" free customs to the aforesaid Chancery pertain-
" ing;" and by another Charter of the same date,
" the custody of our Seal during the whole term
" of his life, with all appurtenances, liberties, and
*' customs to the aforesaid custody pertaining, so
" that he may bear and keep the said Seal in his
" own person so long as he will, or by any discreet,
" sufficient, and fit Deputy, whom he may appoint,
" which said Deputy shall do fealty to us for his
" faithful service, faithfully keeping our Seal in its
" place, before he receive the custody of the said
" Seal ; and if it happen that the same Deputy die,
" or change his life, or for reasonable cause be
" removed by us or by the said Chancellor, or if
" the said Deputy decline longer to bear the said
" Seal, the said Chancellor shall substitute, in the
" place of such Deputy, another discreet, sufficient,
" and fit person, so that he do fealty to us for his
" faithful service, faithfully keeping the aforesaid
" Seal in its place, before he undertake the cus-
" tody of the aforesaid Seal, as is aforesaid."^
One of the grievances of which the Peers and
other Magnates complained, in a Council held at
London in 1244, was that, by default of the Chan-*
cellor. Writs had been granted contrary to justice.
-■■■■-■■-
J Rot. Glaus., 16 Hen. III.
JPRCFACC* cliii
They, therefore, requested that such grants should The Great
be entirely revoked ; and that if, upon any occa*
sion, the King should take his Seal away from the
Chancellor, whatever might be sealed with it should
be considered void and of none eflfect.^
Entries occur on the Patent Rolls of the delivery
of the King's Seal to a Gustos or Keeper in the
31st, 32nd, and 33rd of Henry the Third ^; and
in August, in the 37th year of that reign, when the
King went into Gascony, he appointed the Queen
10 be Guardian of the Realm, with the assistance
of the Earl of Cornwall, on which occasion the
Great Seal was placed in her custody under the
King's Privy Seal, and the Seals of the said
Earl and others of the Council, with this pro-
viso, that if any act injurious to the rights of
the Crown should be sealed with any other Seal,
during the King's absence, it should be utterly
void.^ The Seal of the Exchequer was ordered
to be substituted for the Great Seal until the
King's return/ On the 5th of January, in the
39th Hen. HI. 1255, the King's Seal was restored to
1 Matthew Paris, p, 432.
^ Madox's History of the Exchequer, vol. i. p. 68 ; Rot. Pat,
31 Hen. HI. m. 2 ; 38 Hen. Jll. m. 3. The Seal is called in those
Records " Sigillum nostrum."
* Madox's History of the Exchequer, vol. i. pp. 68, 69 ; Rot Pat,
37 Hen. HI. m. 6. and m. 8«
. "* Madox's History of the Exchequer, vol. L p. 69 ; Rot Pat,
37 Hen. III. m. 5.
cliv PREFACE.
Thb Grkat him, and he delivered it to Henry de Wengham
to keep and use ^; and on the 14th of the same
month, the Seal which the King had used in
Gascony was deposited in the Treasury.^ Several
other memoranda occur of the transfer of the
Great Seal to various Chancellors or Custodes
during Henry the Third's reign ; but only one of
them is deserving of attention. In May, in the
49th Hen. III. 1265, the Chancellor surrendered
the King's Seal, in his presence, to the Keeper of
the Wardrobe, who was to retain it until the
Chancellor's return, and he was to use it in the
following manner : It was to be secured in a purse
under the Seals of one, two, or three other persons.
When it was taken out, the Custos was to seal
Writs of Course in the presence of the person
under whose Seal it was laid up, or in his absence,
if he did not choose to attend; but Writs of
Precept were only to be sealed in the presence,
and with the assent of such person ; and when
Writs either of Course or Precept were sealed,
the King's Seal was to be again sealed up, under
the Seal of one of the said three persons, and
replaced in the Wardrobe until the Chancellor
returned.^
1 M adox's History of the Exchequer, vol. L p. 70 ; Rot Pat,
39 Hen. III. m. 5.
2 Madox's History of the Exchequeri vol i. p. 70 ; Memor., 39 Hen. Ill,
rot 6 b ; Hilar. Communia, Ibid.
8 Madox's History of the Exchequer, vol. i.. p. 71 ; Rot PaW
49 Hen. III. m. 16.
PREFACE, clv
It also appears to have been then the custom The Grfat
jfot: the Chancellor to place the Seal in other hands
whenever he went out of the Kingdom, and even
when he went to any place very distant from the
metrqx>Iis. Instances of this practice took place
in the 6th and 1 1th of Edward the First ^; but when
that Sovereign left the Kealm, he, like his imme*
diate predecessor and successors, either took the ■
<jreat Seal with him, or more usually caused it to
be deposited in the Treasury or Wardrobe until
his return ; and another Seal was made for sealing
Judicial instruments in his absence. Thus, in
March, 26 Edw. I. 1298, the Chancellor sent the
5eal^ which had been used in England whilst
the King was in Flanders, (during which time
his son Edward had tested all Writs under
the said Seal,) to be kept in the Treasury.^ In
August 1 302, the Great Seal was again entrusted
to a Custos, to be kept under the Seals of
three other persons until a Chancellor was ap-
pointed, which did not happen until the 30th of
September ; but on the Chancellor's going abroad,
in November following, he restored the Great Seal
to the King, when it was placed in the hands of
1 Madox^s History of the Exchequer^ voL L p. 71.
3 Madox (voL i. p. 71) erroneously callfl that Seal the " Great Seal,**
-which is not only at variance with the Record, wherein it is merely called
*^ Sigillnm Domini Regis quo utebatur in regno Angliae dum Rex erat
'^ in partibus Flandriee/' &C., but it is proved not to have been the Great
Seal by a Record of the reign of Edward IL Vide p. clxii, postecu
3 Madox's History of the Exchequer, vol. i. pp. 71, 72; Hil. Com-
fflonia, 25 & 26 Edw. L rot. 57 a.
glvi PREFACE.
The Great a Custos, as before.* In the 35th Edw. L, in con-
sequence of the death of the Chancellor, a Writ
of Privy Seal was sent from Carlisle, to the Barons
and Treasurer of the Exchequer, together with the
Great Seal, commanding them to deliver the latter
to the Bishop of London, and to receive his oath,
the King having appointed him Chancellor.^
Edward IL The notices of the Great Seal, during the
reign of Edward the Second, are very numerous ^;
but those only will be referred to which throw light
upon its history.
On the 21st of January 1308, the Bishop of
Chichester, the Chancellor, delivered the Great
Seal to the King at Dover, who gave it to Wil-
liam de Melton, to take with him in the Wardrobe
to parts beyond the seas. The King then deli-
vered to the said Chancellor another Seal, (which
had been newly made at London,) for the govern-
ment of the Realm whilst the King should be
abroad.* On the 7th of February in the same
year, Edward returned from Boulogne, where he
had married Isabella of France, and landed at
Dover ; and because his Great Seal, which had
been taken with him beyond the sea, was then
1 Madox's History of the Exchequer, vol. i. pp, 72, 7S ; Rot Claii&,
80 Edw. I. m. 8 d. m. 6 d. m. 5 d.
2 Madox's History of the Exchequer, voL L pp. 73, 74 ; Pas, Com-
munia, 35 Edw. I. rot 46 a.
3 All the Records relating to the Great Seal in the reign of Edward
the Second are printed in the Appendix to the Parliamentary Writs.
4 Rot Claus., 1 Edw. IL m. 11 ; Parliamentary Writs, voL iL div. ii.
app. p. 9.
PREFACE. civil
in the custody of the Keeper of the Wardrobe, The Great
who was not able to reach Dover on the day the
King landed, no Writs were sealed until the fol-
lowing Friday, the 9th of February, when the
Chancellor restored to the King at Dover the Seal
which had been used in England whilst his Majesty
was abroad, and which he consigned to the care of
William de Melton, Comptroller of the Wardrobe ;
and immediately afterwards the King, with his
own hand, delivered the original Great Seal to the
Chancellor.^
On the 1 5th of March in the same year, Wil-
liam de Melton, the King's Secretary, placed in
the hands of the Remembrancer of the Exchequer
at Westminster the King's Small SeaP, which Peter
de Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, had used as Custos
of the Bealm, for sealing Writs whilst the King was
at Boulogne ; and the Remembrancer immediately'
delivered the said Seal to two of the Clerks of
the Treasury, to be kept therein,^
The next record relating to the Great Seal is
of some interest Pursuant to the King's verbal
commands, the Chancellor sent his Majesty at
Langley, on the 9th of June 1308, the Great
1 Parliamentary WritSi voL iU div. ii. app. p. 9 ; Rot. Fin., 1 Edw. II.
hl 9.
2 ** Parvnm SigOlum RegiB,** evidently the Small Seal used instead of
the Great Seal during the King's absence, which is so often mentioned ;
and not as the Record is docketed, and as the Editor of the Parliamentary
Writs has rendered it, « the Privy SeaL"
^ Parliamentary Writs, vol. ii. div, ii. app. p. 11 ; Rot. Glaus., 1 Edw. II*
2a.7d.
clviii PREFACE.
The Great Seal by the Keeper of the Rolk of Chancery;
who returned it to the Chancellor on the next
day. On the 15th of the same month, at the
New Temple, London, the Bishop elect of Win-
chester, the Treasurer, ordered the Chancellor (pur-
suant, as he said, to the verbal commands which
he had received from the King,) to send the Great
Seal to Windsor by Adam de Osgodby, which was
accordingly done ; and it remained with the King
until the 20th of the same month, when it was
again restored to the Chancellor at London.^ It
thus appears that the King was accustomed to
send for, and to use the Great Seal, in the absence
of the Chancellor or Keeper, and that he retained
it in his own hands, on this occasion, so long as
five days. These memoranda are supposed to
have been " intended as evidence that the Chan-
« cellor was not to be con«idered as responsible for
*^ Gaveston's patent of the Lieutenancy of Ireland,
*^ which was sealed at £he express command of the
•^ King on the 16th of Junis, by which the Chan-
" cellor is said to have evaded the sentence which
" had been pronounced in Parliament"^; and it
might afford much curious information if every
Charter and Patent which has been passed, whilst
the Great Seal was in the King's own hands, and
by his special commands, were examined.
1 Parliamentary Writs, voL ii. (fiv. ii. app. p. 14 ; Rot. Clau&^ 1 Edw.II.
m. 3 d.
* Parliamentary Writs, vol. ii, div. i. app. p. 18, n.
PREFACE. cKX
In December 1311, Osgodby, and tw6 other ThsGrbax
persons, were commanded by Letters under the
Privy Seal, to convey the King's Seal to the King
at Windsor Park on the following day, which they
accordingly did ; and on the 20th of January 1312,
they were directed by the King to perform daily,
in the Church of our Lady without the Castle of
Yort, that which appertained to the office of
Chancellor,^ On the 4th of May following, the
Great Seal was conveyed by the Steward of the
Household, from Newcastle upon Tyne, to the
Kmg at Tynemouth; and it was again delivered
to Osgodby, at York, on the 17th of the same
month.^ On the 5th of October, the Bishop of
Worcester was directed to receive and use the
Great Seal, causing an entry of such receipt to
be made on the EoUs of Chancery. The Seal was,
accordingly, delivered to him at Westminster on
the day following^; and on the 17th of April
1313, the Bishop of Worcester went from Windsor
on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, taking with him
the Great Seal, under the seals of the Clerks in
Chancery/ The King having sailed from Dover
for France on the 23rd of May 1313, he left the
1 Parliamentary Writs, voL ii. div. ii. app. p. 43 ; Rot Glaus., 5 Edw. II.
iiLl6d.
2 Parliameiitarj Writs, toL ii. div. ii. app. p. 50 ; Roi Glaus., 5 Edw. II.
iB.5d.
^ Pariiamentary Writs, toL ii. div. ii. app. p. 56 ; Rot Glaus., 6 Edw.II*
iR.26d.
* Parliamentary Writs, voL ii. div. ii. app. p. 61 ; Rot Glaus., 6 Edw. II«
1D.5 d.
clx PREFACE.
The Great Great Seal in the custody of the Bishop of Wor-
cester, under the Seals of the three Clerks in
cery.^
Edward returned to England on the 16th of
July following *, and in December 1313, went on
a pilgrimage to Boulogne, and was out of the
Realm . for eight days, during which time the
Great Seal remained in the custody of the Arch-
bishop elect of Canterbury, who had charge of it
previously, when Bishop of Worcester.®
On the 1st of April 1314, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, who had the custody of the Great Seal,
under the Seals of Osgodby and two other Clerks
in Chancery, delivered it to them, in the King's
presence, in the Abbey at St. Alban's, Edward
being then on his route to Scotland, stating it
was his Majesty's pleasure that the same should
be deposited in a certain chamber in the Tower
of London, under the Seals of three persons
named, one of whom was to reside in that cham-
ber until the King otherwise commanded; and
they were conjointly directed to perform faith-
fully the business of the said SeaL On the 4th
of that month, the Great Seal was conveyed to
London by William de Ayremynne, and after
Writs had been sealed with it, it was delivered.
1 Parliamentaxy Writs, vol. ii. div. ii. app. p. 63 ; Rot Glaus., 6 Edw. II.
m. 4 d.
2 Parliamentary Writs, voL ii. div. ii. app. p. 64 ; Rot. Glaus., 7 Edw- IF .
m. 28 d.
3 Parliamentary Writs, vol. ii, div. ii. app. p. 71.
PREFACE. clxi
under the seals of the said three persons, to the The Great
Archbishop, who, on the following day, went to
his manor of Otford.^
On the 8th of May 1317, the Chancellor being
about to proceed to Canterbury, the King, by writ
of Privy Seal, ordered that during his absence
firom London he should place the Chancery and
the Great Seal in the custody of two persons,
named Ayremynne and Bardelby. The Seal was>
consequently, deUvered to them on the 11th, and
was re-delivered by them to the Chancellor on his
return to London, on the 18th of the same month.^
The Chancellor being about to make a pilgrimage
to Canterbury, he was directed, on the 6th of
February 1318, by writ of Privy Seal, to leave
" Our Seal " in the custody of Master Henry de
Qif, under the Seals of three persons, all, or two,
of whom were to perform the duties of the office
of Chancellor until his return. The Seal was re-
stored to the Chancellor on his arrival in London
on the 19th of the same month,*
1 Parliamentary Writs, yoL ii. div. ii. app. p. 74.
2 J&uLp. 112; Rot Glaus., 10 Edw.II. m. 8 d.
3 Parliamentary Writs, voLii. div. iL app. p. 121; Rot Glaus., 1 1 Edw. II.
m. 11 d. Instances of the Chancellor leaving the Great Seal in the
custody of others when going to a distant part of the Kingdom also
occurred on the 29th of March, II Edw.IL 1318; on the 13th of July
in the same year; on the 1st of December, 13 Edw.II. 1319; on the
8th of August, 14 Edw.II. 1320 ; on the 2nd of September, 16 Edw. II.
1322 ; on the 30th of December in the same year ; and on the 16th of
November, 18 Edw. IL 1324. Vide Parliamentary Writs, vol. ii. div. ik
pp. 123-124, 144, 150, 217, 224, 269.
VOL, VI, 1
The Great A very remarkable proceeding occurred in
^""^ October 1319. The King, being then at York,
commanded John de Hothum Bishop of Ely, and
Chancellor, not to execute any mandate under
the Great Seal in consequence of the messages of
any person, of whatever rank^ who might come
to him in his Majesty's name, unless he had ver-
bally, or by Letters under the Privy Seal, declared
his pleasure to him thereupon.^ On the 23rd of
January 1 320, the Chancellor delivered the Great
Seal to the King, at York, who with his own hands
placed it at the head of his bed, but subsequently
entrusted it to three Clerks in Chancery ; and on
the following day, the Bishop of Norwich, who had
been appointed Chancellor in full Parliament^
received it from the King.^
The next records on the subject particularly
deserve attention. On the 4th of June, 13 Edw. II.
1320, the King being in his green chamber in his
palace of Westminster, in the presence of the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Norwich,
Chancellor, and other personages, caused to be
brought before him two small Seals, the one of
the time of King Edward his father, which was used
in England whilst that monarch was in Glanders *,
1 Parliamentary Writs, vol.ii.diy. ii.app. p. 143; Rot ClauB^ 13 £dw« 11.
m. 16 d.
2 His appointment is not noticed on the Rolls of Parliament
3 Parliamentary Writs, voL ii. div. ii. app. p. 144 ; Rot Glaus., J 3 Ed, II.
m. 9 d.
^ VUk p» civ, antea.
PREFACE. clxiii
and the other, which was used in England when he The Great
(Edward the Second) was lately in France ; and the
King caused the said small Seal of the time of his
&ther to be broken in his presence, and gave the
pieces of silver to the Bishop of Norwich, as the
fee of the Chancellor ; and the other small Seal,.
of bis own time, he deposited in a purse under
the Qiancellor's seal. At the same time, the
Eng being about to proceed into France to do
homage for the Duchy of Aquitaine, commanded
that his Great Seal should remain in some secure
place, whilst he continued abroad, and that in the
meantime the small Seal should suffice for the
government of the Realm. Edward commenced
his journey towards the coast on the following day ;
and on the 9th of the same month, the Chancellor,,
who was about to accompany him, went to the
residence of the Bishop of Exeter, the Treasurer^
and there, after sealing Writs, placed the Great Seal
in a purse, and sealed it with his own Seal, to be
conveyed to the King forthwith. He afterwards-
deKvered the 9mall Seal, sealed with his own
Seal, to three Clerks of the Chancery ; and it
was agreed that so long as the King was in
England, all Writs should issue under his teste^
and during his absence, under the teste of Aymer
de Valence Earl of Pembroke, as Custos of the
Kingdom. The King afterwards sent a Writ of
Privy Seal to the Keepers of the small Seal, in-
forming them that he had sailed on the 19th of
June, and directing, that, until his return. Writs
1 2
clxiv PREFACE.
The Great should be issued under the teste of the Gustos of
the Realm.^
On the 22nd of July, 14 Edw. IL 1320, a
Writ of Privy Seal was addressed to the Keepers
of " Our Seal," informing them that the King had
arrived at Dover on that day, and commanding
them no longer to use the said smaU Seal. It was,
accordingly, delivered by them to the Bishop of
Norwich, the Chancellor, on the next day; and
their Seals being taken off, he sealed up the purse
in which it was contained, and delivered it to the
Chief Baron of the Exchequer, to be kept in the
Treasury.^ On the 24th of July 1321, Ayremynne,
Keeper of the Rolls of Chancery, delivered the
Great Seal to the King himself at Westminster,
under the Seals of the three Clerks of the Chan-
cery ; whereupon the King received the Great Seal
with his own hands, and delivered it to Richard
Camel, to be conveyed to the Queen, in the pre-
sence of the said William, commanding her to keep
the same in her custody ; and that every day, when
Ayremynne should repair to her to open the Great
Seal for the purpose of sealing, she should deliver
it to him, and after the sealing, receive it again.
' On the 24th of the following month, the King,
being in the Tower of London, and the said
Seal being then deposited in the Wardrobe, he
1 Parliamentaiy .Writs, toL iL div, ii* app. p. 146 ; Rot Claus^
ISEdw.IL m.4d.
2 Parliamentary Writs, voLii. div.iL app. p. 150; Rot Claus^
U Edw. IK m. 26 d
PREFACE. clxv
commanded it to be delivered into Ayremynne^s The Great
custody. It was, consequently, entrusted to him,
^nd remained in his charge, under the Seals of
the two other Clerks, until the 23rd of October,
when, by the King's command, he delivered it to
the Queen, at Rochester, by whom it was given
to the Lady Elizabeth de Montibus, to be enclosed
in a casket ; and from that day Ayremynne fetched
the Great Seal from the Queen whenever he wanted
it for sealing, and afterwards returned it to her, to
be kept under his own Seals, and the Seals of the
said Clerks. The Great Seal was subsequently
entrusted by the King, in whose possession it was
on the 15th of November, to various persons ; but
it was restored to his Majesty on the 14th of De-
cember, and remained in his hands until the 24th of
January 1322, on which day he re-delivered it, at
Shrewsbury, to Ayremynne, by whom it was re-
tained until the 3rd of March, when it was given
back to the King/ By Writ of Privy Seal, tested
on the 4th of June 1323, Ayremynne, and the two
other Clerks in Chancery, were commanded to re-
ceive the Great Seal from the Bishop of Norwich,
the Chancellor, in consequence of the King having
been informed of the Bishop's illness ; and they
were directed to keep it in the same manner as
they had previously done.^ On the 8th of August,
1 Pailiamentary Writs, ToLii. div.ii, app.p. 163 ; RotClaus., 15 Edw.IL
ID* 3^ d«
» Pftriiamentary Writs, vol. ii. div. ii. app. p- 228 ; Rot Glaus., 16 Edw. II.
iii.6d.
1 3
I
clxvi PREFACE.
The Great isEdw. IL 1324, Robert de Baldok, Archdeacon
Seal.
of Middlesex, the Chancellor, having obtained the
King's permission to return home for a time, for
his. recreation, delivered the Great Seal to the King,
in Windsor forest, where his Majesty then was for
the purpose of hunting ; and Edward, with his own
hand, on the evening of the same day delivered the
Great Seal to Ayremynne, who was then the
Keeper of the Privy Seal, to perform the duties
of Chancellor; and it was to be kept under the
seals of some of the Clerks of the Chancery.^
The following is, however, the most important
of the records relating to the Great Seal in the reign
of Edward the Second. On the 26th of October
1326, Edward having gone away with Hugh le De-
spenser the younger, and other notorious enemies of
Queen Isabel, and of Edward Duke of Acquitaine^,
the King's eldest son, and having left the realm
without any government, the Archbishop of Dublin
and other Prelates, Earls, Barons, and Knights,
assembled at Bristol, and chose Prince Edward
to be " Custos" of the Kingdom whilst his father
continued absent. On the same day the Duke
assumed the Government, and issued the necessary
legal proceedings under his Privy Seal, which was
then in the keeping of Robert de Wyvill his Clerk^
" because he had no other Seal for the purpose^'*
1 Parliamentary Writs, voLii. div. ii. app. p. 260 ; RotClaus., 28 Edw. II.
m. 38 d.
2 Edward the Third never bore the title of Prince of Wales.
PREFACE. . clxvii
On the 20th of November, the King having re- The Great
turned, the Bishop of Hereford was sent to him
on behalf of the Queen, of her son the Duke of
Acquitaine, and of the Prelates and "Proceres,"
who were then at Hereford, to request that he
would command those things to be done with the
Great Seal, then in his possession, which were
necessary for the conservation of the peace, and
the due administration of justice. To this message
the King, who was at Monmouth, replied, that he
would send his Great Seal to his consort and son,
that tliey might cause it to be opened, it being
then under his Privy Seal, and therewith do, not
only all acts necessary for the preservation of the
peace and the administration of justice, but also all
matters of grace. The Great Seal was accordingly
sent to the Queen and the Duke, at Cirencester,
and was by them delivered, on the 30th of No-
vember, to the Bishop of Norwich, in whose custody
it remained until the 4th of December, on which
day he returned it to the Queen and the Duke ;
and the Seal was opened from time to time for
the despatch of business, and after being used was
again sealed up under the Bishop's seal, and re-
turned to them.^
The preceding facts prove that it was by no
means the universal practice for the Great Seal to
remain near the King's own person ; but a change
I Parliamentary Writs, vol. ii. div. ii. part i. p. 349 ; Rot. Claus.,
20 Edw. II. m. 3 d.
1 4
clxviii PREFACE.
The Great evidently took place, in this respect, in the reign
of Edward the Third, It was then the custom for
Edward III. the Great Seal to accompany the King wherever
he went, even when he quitted England, whether
he was, or was not, attended by his Chancellor,
instead of its being deposited, as formerly, in the
Treasury until his return. But the usage was
necessarily continued of having another Seal, which
was for the time also called a " Great Seal,'* for
sealing judicial instruments during his Majesty's
absence, which was committed to the Chancellor's
custody, instead of the original Great Seal. On
the King's return, however, the Great Seal was
restored to the Chancellor, and the duplicate was
carefully deposited in the Treasury, until a similar
occasion for it should arise. Thus, the Great
Seal seems, in the fourteenth century, to have
been considered inseparable from the person of
the Sovereign, which, though opposed to more
ancient usage, nevertheless agrees with the state-
ment of Lord Coke, that " as the Great Seal is
" ^ Clavis Regni,' it is proper that the King should
" always have the Key of his Kingdom about
« him." ^
1 Stat. 28 Edw. I. cap. v. ^^ Et dauter part le Roy voit que le
<< Chauncellor et les Justices de son bank luy suivent," &&; upon
which Lord Coke remarks^ ^< The true cause wherefore the Chancellor
<< followed the King's « court was, that the Great Seal is Clams Regni^
« and in the custody of the Chancellor, and meet it was that the Kin^
<^ should always have the Key of his Kingdom about him/' &c Second
Institute, pp. 551, SS2*
PREFACE. clxix
On the 10th of July, in the 12th Edw. III. The Great
1338, a Writ was issued to the Sheriff of Kent j
stating, that as the King was going out of the
Keabn, and would take his Great Seal with him, he
had appointed another Seal to be used in this
<x>UDtiy whilst he remained abroad ; and that the
impression of such Seal might be generally known,
the Sheriff was commanded to cause it to be ex-
hibited and declared in £ull County court.^
In February 1340, the Sheriff of Kent re-
ceived a similar command to exhibit impressions
of the new Great Seal and Privy Seal, which were
then made in consequence of Edward's having as-
sumed the title of King of France.* On the 1st of
March following, the King delivered to the Keeper
of the Rolls (the Chancellorship being vacant)
a Great Seal then newly made for the government
of his Eealm, which he had brought with him from
abroad, and which was to be kept by that person,
to do and expedite therewith those things which
should be required in that behalf for the King and
his people^; and on the same day the Keeper of
the Bolls surrendered to the King another " Great
'^ Seal'' appointed for the rule of the Realm of
Fngland during the King's absence abroad, which
had been in his custody, and which his Majesty
gave to the Keeper of the Privy Seal, to be kept
in the Wardrobe.^
Edward the Third again went to France in
> Fcedera, vol v. p. 63. 2 /bid. p- 169. » Ibid. p. 171.
clxx PREFACE,
TheGbbat July 1345, and on the 3rd of that month, being
at Sandwich ready to embark, the Chancellor came
there, and delivered to him, in the chamber of
Queen Philippa, a Great Seal which he had in
his custody for the government of the Realm of
England; and the King having received it, de-
livered to the Chancellor another Seal for the
government of the said Realm whilst his Majesty
remained abroad, which the Chancellor took with
him to London ; and on the ensuing Wednesday he
caused divers Charters, Letters Patent, and Writs
to be sealed therewith at Westminster.*
The next notice of the Great Seal was in
July 1346, on the 2nd of which month the Chan-
cellor, by command of the King, who was then in
the Isle of Wight, and about to sail for France,
delivered the Great Seal appointed for the govern-
ment of England, whilst the King was within the
Realm, to the Keeper of the Privy Seal, in the
church of Fareham, near Porchester ; and the
Chancellor immediately received from the Keeper
of the Privy Seal one other^ the King's Great
Seal, appointed for the rule of the said Realm
whilst the King was abroad.^ The Keeper of the
Privy Seal appears to have merely received the
Great Seal on this occasion for the purpose of
conveying it to the King.
Immediately before Edward sailed for. France,
in October 1359, the Chancellor sent David de
Fcedera, vol. t, p, 472. 2 jOnd. p. 51 8,
(4
PREFACE. clxxi
WoUore, the Keeper of the Rolls, to the King Thb Great
in the Isle of Thanet, with the Great Seal, and ^^^•
a certain small Seal for Thomas the King'd
son, which he should use as Gustos of Eng-^
land whilst the King was out of the Realm,
^^ which the said Chancellor, in his dwelling at
^ Southwark, delivered to the said David, to be
conveyed to the King, who was at Sandwich
on his passage towards France. Which Seals,
" being so received by the King from the said
" David, he delivered the aforesaid Great Seal to
" John de Wynewyk, Keeper of his Privy Seal,
" to be kept ; and the other small Seal to John de
Rokyngham, Clerk, then appointed by the King
to bear the said Seal. And by his Writ of Privy
** Seal he commanded the Chancellor that he
^^ should receive from the King's Treasurer and
'^ Chamberlains one other Great Seal appointed
^ for the oflSce of Chancellor during the King's
" absence, being in the King's Treasury, and
" that he should seal therewith the Charters,
Letters Patent, and Writs close, under the King's
testimony whilst he should be in the Realm, and
under the testimony of the said Custos after the
" King's embarkation ; which the Chancellor, on
^ JMTonday the 14th day of October, received from
" the Treasurer and Chamberlains, in a bag sealed
" with the seal of Master John de Offord, formerly
" the King's Chancellor ; and taking the bag with
** him to the marble table in Westminster Hall,
" there, in the presence of the aforesaid David,
clxxii PREFACE.
The Grkat *' Keeper of the Rolls of the King's Chancery, and
" of others, caused the same to be opened, and
*^ Charters, Letters Patent, and Writs to be sealed
^^ therewith ; and such sealing having been made,
" he caused the said Seal to be replaced in the said
" bag, and to be conveyed to his dwelling. And
^^ afterwards, on the feasts of Saint Simon and Jude,
" to wit, the 28th day of the same month of
^^ October, the King, between daybreak and sun-
" rise, having embarked at the port of Sandwich,
" with other lords and nobles then being with him,
" in a ship called the Philip of Dartmouth, set sail
*^ from thence towards the town of Calais, and
^^ made the port of the same town on the same
" day about the hour of vespers."^
Edward returned to England on the 18th of
May 1360 ; and having arrived at Westminster the
next day, he summoned the Chancellor and Trea-
surer to his presence. He then delivered to the
Chancellor his Great Seal appointed for the rule of
England, which he had caused to be conveyed
with him to France, inclosed in a bag sealed with
the Privy Seal; and on the following day the
Chancellor delivered the other Great Seal, used for
the sealing of Writs during the King's absence, to
the Treasurer, to be deposited in the Treasury.^
The last record of the King's Seals in the reign
of Edward the Third to which it is necessary to
allude, refers to the Seals used in all his Coiirts
1 Fcedera, voLvL p. Ul. ^ aid. p. 196.
PREFACE^ clxxiii
after his resumption of the style of King of ^" sbaZ^^
France in June 1369, and which were evidently
the same Seals as had been used during the time
he had before borne that title. After stating the
reason for again adopting the title of King of
France, the memorandum thus proceeds : —
^ Whereupon the now King of England and
" France caused to be brought into the Chan-
" eery all his Seals, as well for the rule of Eng-
" land as for the places of either Bench, and of
" the Exchequer, and for the office of Privy Seal,
" on the circumscription whereof was engraven
•
^ Edwardus Rex Anglie et Francie, sive Francie
" ET Anglie, being in the Treasury of the said
" King, by William de Mulsho and John de
" Newenham, Chamberlains of the Exchequer of
" the said King of England and France, at West-
" minster, on Monday the feast of St. Barnabas the
" Apostle, to wit, the 11th of June in the present
" year. Whereupon the venerable father, William
" Bishop of Winchester, the Chancellor of the said
" King, delivered two Great Seals, each of them
" of two pieces, on one of which was engraven
" Rex Anglie et Francie, and on the other
*^ Rex Francie et Anglie, and one Seal of two
" pieces, to John Knyvet, the Chief Justice of the
" King's Bench, for the Writs of the same place ;
^ and another Seal of two pieces to Robert de
" Thorp, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, for
" the Writs of the same place '; and a certain Seal
" of two pieces to Master William de Askeby^
clxxiv PREFACE.
The Great « Archdeacon of Northampton, Chancellor of the
** King's Exchequer, to seal the Writs of the said
" Exchequer ; and one other Seal of one piece,
** appointed for the office of Privy Seal, to Peter
*' de Lacy, Clerk of the Privy Seal. And he re-
" delivered to the aforesaid Chamberlains that
" great seal of two pieces, whereon is engraven
" Edwardus Rex Anglie dominus Hibernie et
" Aquitanie, and which, according to the aforesaid
" Peace, was appointed for the rule of England ;
" and four other Seals for the Benches, the Ex-
" chequer, and for the office of Privy Seal, with
*> the style Kegis Angl' dVi Hib'n' et Aquitan',
•• which, after the aforesaid Peace, had been
" hitherto kept in the Treasury/'^
Richard II. No notice has been discovered of a duplicate
Great Seal being used during the reigns of Richard
the Second, Henry the Fourth, or Henry the
Fifth ; and the next time one is mentioned is in
the early part of the fifteenth century. A fact
connected with the Great Seal and the Chancellor-
ship, which occurred in the reign of Richard the
Second, is, however, sufficiently curious to be
stated. The impetuous manner in which that
Monarch acted towards his Ministers, whenever a
sense of duty caused them to oppose his wishes,
has been already mentioned.^ Like his prede-
cessors, he sometimes commanded the Great Seal
' Foedera, voLvi. p. 621.
2 Proceedings of the Council, vol. i. p. xv. ; Rot Pari. vol. iii. p. 420 b.
PREFACE clxxv
to be affixed to instruments while it was in his The Great
own keeping ^, thereby avoiding all remonstrance, ^^^*
and preventing all responsibility on the part of his
Chancellor. Kichard Lord Scrope of Bolton was
appointed Chancellor for the second time in De-
cember 1381 ; but having resisted the King's
desire to confer, upon some Royal favourites, the
lands which, on the death of the Earl of March,
had &llen to the Crown, Richard " became incensed
" at Scrope's behaviour, and sent messenger after
" messenger, commanding him forthwith to return
** the Great Seal." Lord Scrope, however, declined
to deliver it, except to the King himself^; and the
Record of the surrender of it, in July 1382, corrobo-
rates this statement. It recites that on the 11th of
July in that year, it being the King's pleasure that
Lord Scrope should be discharged from the office
of Chancellor, he sent John de Montague, Steward
of his Household, to command that the Great
Seal should be delivered to him forthwith. With
this demand the Chancellor, " as in duty bound,'*
complied; and he surrendered it to the King,
who, with his own hands, received it from him.
The King, however, not having then nominated
the future Chancellor, entrusted his Seal to Com-
missioners, by whom it was used until the Satur-
day following, on which day it was delivered to
the Bishop of London, who, at Bristol, had been
previously appointed Chancellor.^
1 For an kistance of this practice in 1381, see Foedera, voL vii. p. 336.
2 Walsingham, p. 290.- ^ Foedera, vol. vii. p.3&2.
clxxvi PREFACE.
The Great On the 28th of September 1422, about six
He/ "" Vl weeks after the death of Henry the Fifth, the
Bishop of Durham, then Chancellor, surrendered
the Great Seal of gold into the hands of his in&nt
Sovereign, at Windsor Castle, in the presence of
the Duke of Gloucester, who delivered it in the
King's name to Gaunsted, the Keeper of the Rolls,
to convey to London. On the next day, several
instruments were sealed with it by Gaunsted, who
retained it until the 20th of November follow-
ing, on which day he gave it to the Duke of
Gloucester, in full Parliament. The Duke counter-
sealed the purse in which it was contained^ and
gave it to a Clerk, to be deposited in the Trea-
sury.^
Four days before this proceeding, namely, on
the 16th of November, the Bishop of Durham was
re-appointed Chancellor, by Letters Patent^; and it
is remarkable that there is no record of his having
ever resigned the Great Seal of silver, or of the
Great Seal of gold having been again placed in his
custody. A new Great Seal was made on that oc-
casion, because the King's style in the inscriptions
on the former Seals was not suited to the reigning
Monarch. It was said, that " great peril might
" ensue to the King if the said Seals were not
^ immediately altered ;" and the Keepers of all
the King's Seals were ordered to cause them
to be altered forthwith.* This proceeding is
1 pp. 343, 344, posted. ? p. 345^ postea.
3 Pot Pari, 1 Hen. VI. vol. iv. p. 171.
PREFACE. clxxvii
considered by Prynne as one of the two pre- TheGrbat
cedents, which he cites, establishing the right of *^^'
Parliament to cause a new Great Seal to be made
whenever the original was lost or wilfully with-
held'; but there is little analogy between that
proceeding and the case to which it is applied
The Bishop of Durham surrendered the Great
Seal of silver on the 16th of July 1424, and it was
immediately delivered to Beaufort Bishop of Win-
chester, who took the oath of Chancellor, and sealed
various Charters with the Great Seal according to
custom*^ Cardinal Beaufort having resigned the
Great Seal of stiver ^ the Duke of Bedford brought
it to Leicester Castle, on the 14th of March 1426,
in a bag of white leather ; and having sealed some
Letters Patent, replaced it therein; and on the
lj6th of the same month conveyed it to the King,
who delivered it to John Kemp, Bishop of London,
the new Chancellor.^ The Great Seal oi gold seems
to have remained in the King's Treasury from the
time it was surrendered by die Bishop of Durham,
in September 1422, until after the appointment of
the Bishop of London ; for on the 1 8th of March
the Bishop of Bath and Wells, late Treasurer of
Sngland, pursuant to a Writ of Privy Seal directed
to him, brought into Parliament the King's Great
Seal of gold ; and having given it to the Duke of
Bedford, the King's commissioner, the Duke took
I The Opening of the Great Seal, p. 19. '^ p. 344, postea,
^ p.S46,jNMtei.
VOL, VI, m
clxxviii PREFACE.
The Grbat it out of the bag, publicly exhibited and replaced
it, and then delivered it into the custody of the
Bishop of London, the Chancellor.^
Cardinal Kemp was translated to the See of
York in April 1426 ; and on the 25th of February
1432 he surrendered the two Great Seals, one of
gold and the other of siher^ to the King, who
delivered them to John Stafford, Bishop of Bath.*
In consequence of the Chancellor's departure from
England, in April 1433, to assist at a negociation
at Calais, the Great Seal of silver was placed in the
custody of the Keeper of the Rolls, with power to
use the same^; but returning on the 3rd of May,
he restored it into the Chancellor's hands, who
thus became the depositary of both.*
Stafford was appointed Archbishop of Canter-
bury in May 1443, and surrendered the two Great
Seals above mentioned on the 31st of January
1450, when the King delivered them to Cardinal
Kemp, Archbishop of York, the new Chancellor,
placing at tlie same time in his custody a leather
bag, sealed with divers seals containing another of
the King's Seals of silver, which had been kept
in the Treasury.^ Of this third Seal the purport
is not known ; but on Cardinal Kemp's deaths in
March 1454, " the King's three Great Sealsj one of
" gold and the other two of silver^^ were brought
J Rot ParU vol. iv. p. 299. ^ p. 349, pottea.
< pp. 350-352, jExw/to. 4 p. 352, postea.
5 pp. 353, 354, postea.
PREFACE- clxxix
into Parliament, in a wooden chest, and delivered The Great
Seal.
by the Duke of York, the Lieutenant of the King-
dom, to the newly appointed Chancellor, Richard
Earl of Salisbury.^
The Earl of Salisbury surrendered the King's
Great Seal of silver^ with two other of the King's
Great Seals, one of gold and the other of silver^ on
the 7th of March 1455 ; and his Majesty then
placed the said three Seals in the custody of Thomas
Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, who imme-
diately afterwai'ds took the oath of Chancellor.^
On the 11th of October 1456, the said three Seals,
having been surrendered by Archbishop fiour-
chier, were delivered to Waynjflete Bishop of Win-
chester, who became Chancellor; and the record
describes the Seals as " one Great Seal of gold,
*^ another Seal of silver of a large form, and the
" third Seal of silver of a smaller form.'*' Bishop
Waynflete seems to have been dismissed from, or
to have resigned, the Chancellorship, in a very
sudden manner, arising, probably, from the success
of the Yorkists, as he surrendered to the King one
of his Great Seals of silver in his tent pitched in a
field called Hardingstone Field, near the Abbey of
SU Mary De Pratis, close to Northampton, on the 7th
of July 1460, in the presence only of the Bishops of
Hereford and Durham, Master Thomas Mannyng,
the King's Secretary, and two Esquires. The Seal
1 p. 355, poitea. 2 pp. 358 359, postea,
m 2
Clxxx PREFACE.
The Great was deposited in a chest, locked, and the key of it
given to the King.*
It is certain that the Great Seal was again
placed in the custody of Bourchier, Archbishop of
Canterbury, between the 7th and 25th of July in the
same year ; whose name, however, does not occur
in Sir William Dugdale's, or in any other cata-
logue, as being Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper
during that period. HBs tenure of the Seals could
not have exceeded seventeen or eighteen days,
because the Bishop of Winchester surrendered the
Great Seal on the 7th, and on the 25th of July
the Archbishop of Canterbury (who is not styled
Chancellor or Lord Keeper in the record) delivered
to the King, in the house of the Bishop of London
called the Bishop's Palace, in London, three Great
Seals of the King, one of gold^ and the other two
of silver^ on which day his Majesty gave them to
George Neville, Bishop of Exeter, the new Chan-
cellor. On the 26th of July, however, that per-
sonage surrendered back into the King's hands two
of the said three Seals, namely, one of gold^ and
the other of silver y which his Majesty retained.^
There can be little doubt that though there
were two, and, in the latter part of Henry the
Sixth's reign, even three. Great Seals in existence,
yet that only one of them, namely, the large silver
Seal, was generally used. The gold Seal was clearly
not the usual official Seal, for one Chancellor never
1 p. 361, posUa. 2 pp. 3^, 363, poifeo.
PREFACE. Clxxxi
received it into his custody; another seems to The Great
. • Seal,
have had only the silver Seal with him when he
was miexpectedly called upon to retire from office ;
and on the last occasion, when the gold and smaller
silver Great Seal are both mentioned, they were
restored to the King, evidently from their being
useless to the new Chancellor, within a few
Lours after his appointment The Great Seal of
gold was, however, delivered to Bishop Neville,
on his re-appointment to the Chancellorship by
Edward the Fourth immediately after his accest-
sion.^ But neither that Seal nor the smaller one
of silver are noticed in the other records of the
delivery of the Seals in that, or in any sub-
sequent reign ; and only one Great Seal ^ is spoken
of throughout Prynne's learned treatise on the
subject
Attention ought to be drawn to two other
fikrts respecting the Great Seal during the early
part of the period to which the preceding obser-
vations refer. Whenever it was not in use, it was
tept under the Seals of one or more Clerks of
the Chancery ; and it was . sometimes necessary
that they should be present when it was taken
out of the purse or bag in which it was depo-
sited, so that, in fact, the Keeper of the Great Seal
could not use it without summoning some inferior
officers of the Court of Chancery. It is like-
1 Foedera, voL xi. p. 47S.
- Liord Coke merely notices the fact that Heniy the Sixth had two
Great Seals. (4th Inst. 88.)
m S
clxxxti PREFACE.
The Great wise remarkable that in all the Records of the
surrender and delivery of the Great Seal, it is par-
ticularly stated, that on its being placed in the
hands of the new Chancellor or Keeper he had
sealed Writs, Charters, or Patents therewith ; as if
the actual icse of the Seal was necessary to prove
that he had taken full possession of his Office.
In the reign of Henry the Eighth the Lord
Chancellor appears to have taken the Great Seal
with him wherever he went, even when he quitted
the Realm ; but he seems to have possessed the
power of entrusting it to another person for a
temporary purpose. Thus, Secretary Pace informed
Lord Chancellor Wolsey, who was at Calais in
October 1521, that the King said Trinity term
might be kept, if he would send home the Master
of the Rolls with the Great Seal for that purpose.^
It being, however, determined to adjourn the Term
in case the plague continued, the necessary Writs
were sent to Wolsey, to be sealed and returned
to the King.^
The remaining observations will be confined
to the manner in which the Great Seal, has, to use
a technical expression, been " put in motion ;*' or,
in other words, what was at various periods
considered the Chancellor's proper authority for
affixing it to instruments which derive from it
their validity and legal effect.
State Papers, vol i. p. 70. ^ Ibid. p. 76.
PREFACE. Clxxxiii
With the few exceptions, which will be after- The Great
wards noticed, the Great Seal cannot be used
without the express commands of the King ; and
there have been several modes in which He has
expressed His commands to the Chancellor for
that purpose ; viz., Ist, Verbally ; 2ndly, by Letters
under his Signet, or other small Seal addressed
directly to him ; Srdly, by Letters under ihe Privy
Seal, similarly addressed ; and 4thly, by the two
latter means conjoined, that is, by Letters under
the Signet addressed to the Keeper of ihe Privy
Seal, who thereupon intimates the Koyal pleasure
to the Lord Chancellor by a Warrant under the
Privy Seal
Of the usual manner of proceeding before
the reign of Bichard the Second, little more is
known than what is to be gathered from the
notices which were generally, though not always,
added at the end of Charters and Patents, stating
the immediate authority upon which they had
been granted. Tliese notices exhibit the fol-
lowing among, perhaps, other variations : " By
" the King himself, and all the Council^:" "By
^ Writ of Privy SeaP;" " This Charter was made
^ according to our mandate sent by the Bishop of
« Winchester^:" « By the King himself:" « By
^ the Petition of the Council :" « By the Coun-
" cil :" " By the King himself and the Great
I Charter 51 Hen. m.
3 34 Edw. I.; and very generally at all periods. ^ 19 Edw. II.
m 4
clxxxiv PREFACE.
The Great « Council:" "By the King and Council in full
" Parliament^:" " By fine paid into the Hanaper :*'
" By Letters of the King himself of the Signet*:*'
" By the King, and afterwards by the announce-
« ment of the Constable of England:'' " By Peti-
" tion in Parliament^;" and sometimes " By the
" King's own word of mouth."*
The evils and inconveniences which arose fi-om
the Chancellor being obliged to pass any Grant
which the King, through the influence of favourites
or from momentary impulse, might be induced to
confer, without the previous interposition of his
Council, or of some of his responsible Ministers,
were shewn on numerous occasions, and were, as
has been already observed, frequently the subject
of complaints in Parliament. Various remedies
were at diflerent times suggested, but it was long
before any effectual restraint could be imposed
upon the King's personal authority respecting
Grants. Perhaps the earliest effort made by the
Legislature to render the Keeper of the Privy
Seal, as well as the Chancellor, responsible for
illegal Grants, was in the 13th Ric. XL 1389 ^
with reference to pardons of treasons and fe-
lonies; and the next appears to have occurred
in the 8th of Henry the Fourth. In December
of that year (1406) it was agreed by the King
and Parliament, that, for the preservation of the
1 Between 5 and 10 Edw. III. 2 10 Ric II. « 1 Hen. IV.
4 Per ipsum Regem ore tenns. ^ Vide p. cxliii, aniea.
PREFACE. dxxxv
Laws of the Kingdom, the Chancellor and the Thb great
Keeper of the Privy Seal should not allow any
.Warrant, Grant by Patent, Judgment, or any other
thmg, to pass under the Seals in their custody, or
in the custody of either of them, which by Law
and right ought not to pass ; and that they should
not unduly delay such as ought to pass.^
In the 18th of Henry the Sixth a Statute was
passed, which stated that numerous persons had
obtained Grants of Of&ces and Lands from a
date long antecedent to that of the Patent which
conferred them, whence it had often happened,
that parties who were in actual possession under
previous Patents had been unjustly removed,
** against right, good conscience, or reason." It
was therefore enacted, that the day of the delivery
of every Warrant thereafter sent by the King
to the Chancellor, should be recorded in Chan-
cery; and that the Letters Patent issued pur-
suant to such Warrant should be dated on the
day on which it was delivered into Chancery,
and not before. All Patents afterwards made to
the contrary were to be utterly void and of none
effect^ After this Statute all Letters Patent or
Charters, in addition to the usual words, " By the
'' King himself,'' or " By Writ of Privy Seal,'' &c.,
are said to have been granted " of the Date afore-
'^ said, by the authority of Parliament,'' which has
sometimes been absurdly supposed to mean, that
1 Rot Pari, voL iii. p, 586. » Stat 18 Hen.VL c 1.
clxxxvi PREFACE.
The Great such instruments had the force of an Act of Par-
hament
Neither the Parliamentary Ordinances of 1389,
or 1406, nor this Statute, rendered a Warrant under
the Privy Seal indispensible to authorize the Chan*
cellor to affix the Great Seal to Grants of Honors,
Offices, or Lands ; and it is a remarkable fact, that
the present excellent system of a gradation of
Officers, each imposing a check upon the other,
which is thus eulogized by Lord Coke, was (with
the few exceptions hereafter mentioned) first uni-
versally acted upon, and became part of the Statute
Law of the country, in the arbitrary reign of Henry
the Eighth :
« At the making of this Statute (28 Edw. I.)
^^ the King had another Seal, and that is called
^* * Signettum,' his Signet. This Seal is ever in
" the custody of the Principal Secretary ; and there
^* be four Clerks of the Signet, called ' Clerici Sig-
" netti,' attending on him. Tlie reason wherefore
" it is in the Secretaries custody, is, for that the
" King's private Letters are signed therewith. Also
^* the duty of the Clerk of the Signet is to write
" out such Grants or Letters Patent as pass by Bill
" signed (that is, a Bill superscribed with the Sig-
" nature, or Sign Manual, or Royal hand of the
" King,) to the Privy Seal ; which Bill, being
^ transcribed and sealed with the Signet, is a
« Warrant to the Privy Seal, and the Privy Seal
" is a Warrant to the Great Seal. Such was the
" \yisdom of prudent Antiquity, that whatsoever
PREFACE, clxxxvii
" should pass the Great Seal, should come through The Gas at
^^ so many hands, to the end that nothing should
*' pass that Great Seal, that is so highly esteemed
^ and accounted of in Law, that was against Law^
^' or inconvenient ; or that any thing should pass
" from the King any ways, which he intended
" not, by undue or surreptitious means."*
Although the establishment of a regular chain
o{ official responsibility in making Grants, under
the Great Seal, did not come into general use until
a comparatively late period, an arrangement founded
upon that system was not only proposed by the
Comicil to^ but actually received the consent of,
King Henry the Sixth. This circumstance is
shewn by tlie Ordinance which was submitted to
and approved by that Monarch about the year 1443;
but as it has been already ftiUy abstracted^ it is
only requisite to refer to so much of it as bears
upon the matter under discussion. Tlie object
was clearly to prevent improper Grants ; and as
I Second Institute, p. 556* The system is also justly praised by
Bkuskstone. ** The King's Grants are also matter of public record ;
" for, as St. Germyn says (Doctor and Student, B, i. d. 8.), the King's
** Excellency b so high in the Law that no freehold may be given to
'* the King, ncnr derived from him, but by matter of record. And to
*^ this end a variety of Offices are erected, communicating in a regular
" subordination one with another, through which all the King's Grants
** must pass, and be transcribed and enrolled,, that the same may be
^ narrowly inspected by his Officers, who will inform him if any thing
** contained therein is improper or unlawful to be granted." Conmieiv-
tariesy voL ii. p. 346*
2 p. xci-xciv, on^ea ; wnd^^SlSteiseq^postea) where it is printed at
length.
«
«
clxxxviii PREFACE.
The Great the Statute of the 18th Hen. VI. provided against
antedating Patents, so this Ordinance, after securing
means for rendering the King fully acquainted
with the nature of all Petitions, provided that a
clause should be introduced into all Grants, making
them conditional upon the things solicited not
having been already conferred*
The regulation by which it was sought to
impose a restraint upon a hasty exercise of the
King's prerogative, was as follows :
" Item, that forasmuch as it is like that such
" thing as passeth the hands of many persons shall
^^ the more readily and sadly pass, and any hurt that
should else more grow to the King or to prejudice
of any other person the more to be eschewed, it
" is thought that all Bills, when the King of his
" good grace hath granted them, be delivered to
** his Secretary, and Letters to be conceived upon
" them, directed under the Signet to the Keeper
" of the Privy Seal, and from thence under the
« Privy Seal to the Chancellor of England."
" Item, that the Keeper of the Privy Seal,
" what time he receiveth Letters under the Signet,
" shall, if it be thought to him that the matter
" contained in the same be of great charge, have
" recourse to the Lords of the Council, and open
" to them the matter, to the intent that if it be
" thought necessary to them the King be adver-
^ tised thereof, ere it pass."*
1 p. 318, 319, pos^.
PREFACE- clxxxix
While this arrangement was intended by its TheGrbat
authors to be a check upon the Royal will, they
still feared it might raise the suspicion of its being
intended to touch the King's prerogative ; for in
the introduction to the Ordinance the Council
humbly protested, that they submitted the project
to his Majesty " only by way of advertisement, and
« none otherwise ; for they in no wise think, nor
^ have will to do or [propose], anything but that
^ the King's good Grace do at all times as it shaU
^ please him, and use his power and wiU as it
" appertaineth to his Royal estate."^
Some pains have been taken to ascertain
whether this admirable arrangement was imme-
diately acted upon ; and the result of the inquiry
shews that though Grants from the Crown appear
to have been made in conformity with its pro-
visions, for some time after it was issued, and
though it may have induced the Crown to employ
the intervention of the Privy Seal more frequently
than before, yet that its main object — of ren-
dering the sanction of the Keeper of the Privy
Seal indispensible to every instrument that passed
the Great Seal — was certainly not attained
All the Letters Missive now in the Tower
to the Chancellor in the reigns of Henry the Sixth
and Edward the Fourth have been examined ; and
they prove that the most material provisions of
that Ordinance were disregarded. After, as well as
1 T^.Sl6,poste(u
CXC PREFAOR.
The Great before 1443, the King was in the habit of sending his
commands^ under his Signet, directly to the Chan^
cellor, to make Grants of every description — of
Offices, Honors, Lands, and Privileges — ^without any
Writ of Privy Seal Patents marked ** Per ipsum
" Regem" were equally common ; and although
many Patents were certainly issued by authority of
Writs of Privy Seal, which may have been considered
the regular method, still they were not more nume-
rous than theretofore ; nor is it possible to define
accurately in what cases Writs of Privy Seal were
then thought indispensible to justify the Chancellor
in using the Great Seal. No general rule seems to
have been adopted ; but those Writs are supposed to
have been very rarely used when the King gave his
commands verbally to the Chancellor, or when a
Petition, to which his Majesty had acceded, recited
the form in which the thing prayed for was to be
granted.
The Ordinance of the 22nd Hen. VI. appears,
however, to have created some doubt of the validity
of such Grants as had been passed upon no other
authority than Warrants under the Signet, or Sig-
net of the Eagle, or of Bills signed by the King
and indorsed by the Chamberlain, or Clerk of the
Council ; for in November 1444 the King issued
the following Writ of Privy Seal, declaring that
all such Grants as had passed since the tenth
year of his reign, pursuant to such Bills and
Letters, should be as ^^ firm and stable," and to
the Chancellor of as sufficient Warrant, as though
PREFACE. cxd
he had made them by authority of Letters of ^^^^ Q^max
Privy Seal: —
" Herry, by the grace of God Kynge of
^ England and of Fraunce^ and Lord of Irland,
^ to our Chauncellor of England, gretynge. All
^^ sadk gramites as that sith the x^\ yere of our
" r^e unto this tyme Ye by force and vertue of
" Billes with our own hond, and by Lettres under
^ our Signettes of the Egle and Armes, and also
^ by Billes endoced by our Chamberleyns hands,
" and Clerk of our Counsail, have made our
^ Lettres Patentes under our Grete Seel, We hold
^ theym ferme and stable, and of as grete strength
^ and valewe, and to yowe as suj£cient warrant, as
^ though ye had had for theime our Lettres of
^ Frive Seal ; any statut, charge, restraint, act, or
^ commaundement to vowe made into the contrarie
^ notwithstondyng. Yeven under our Prive Seal,
^ at our manoir within our park of Wyndesore,
" the vij, day of November, the yere of our regno
" xxiij."*
Although this document tends to shew that
the r^ular course, in making Grants, was by Writs
of Privy Seal, it not only proves that the King
conridered that he might, as he often did, com-
mand the Chancellor to act without them, but that
he could, by his mere declaration, confer validity
upon all Grants which had been passed under such
circumstances.
1 Rot Pat, p. L 23 Hen-VI. m. 18.
cxcii PREFACE.
TheGrrat a remarkable instance of the King^s dis- I
""'• pensing with the Privy Seal occurred in 1447.
Henry having pardoned a person who had been
convicted of high treason, a letter, sealed with the
Signet of the Eagle, was sent to the Chancellor,
commanding him to grant the offender a pardon
under the Great Seal ; and informing him, " that
" when the Privy Seal should come into country,
" we shall send you your sufficient Warrant in this
^ behalf."* This process, by which the Chancellor
was ordered to act without his proper Warrant,
upon a promise that it should be sent to him
after the deed should have been irrevocable, proves
how little the principle of official responsibility
was then understood, or, at least, attended to.
The following circumstance exhibits another
example of the King's disregard of those official
forms by which the Crown is prevented from
acting without the sanction of its advisers ; and
it also proves that it was not usual, in the reign
of Henry the Sixth, for the King to sign all
Letters which were written in his name.. In
1442, Ambassadors were appointed to negociate a
marriage between Henry the Sixth and a daughter
of the Count of Armagnac Their instructions,
which were issued under the Great Seal in the
usual manner, only empowered them to treat for
an alliance with the lady who was specially named
therein ; but the King afterwards wished ** to set it
1 Ex Grig, in Turn Load., printed in the Excerpta Historica, p. 281.
PREFACE. exciii
" general," that he might have the choice of either Tub Great
of the Count's daughters. Instead of causing so
important a variation from the original instructions
to be executed in a proper manner, under the Great
Seal, it was merely expressed in a Letter from the
King to the Ambassadors, under the Signet of the
Ei^le, and the irregularity was thus attempted to
be provided for in the Letter itself : ** And foras-
<' much as ye have none instruction of this form,
^ but this only which proceedeth of Our own
" motion, desiring therefore that ye, tiotwithstand-
" ing all other, do the execution thereof. We have
" signed this Letter of Our own hand, the which,
*^ as ye wot well. We be not much accustomed
" for to do in other case."*
The Ambassadors declined to act upon that
Letter, and informed his Majesty that, according
to their ^ simple wits," it had altogether super-
seded their Commission. They, therefore, prayed
for new powers ; and another Commission was
issued, which authorized them to select one of
the Count's daughters ; but the new Commission,
though executed about the 2nd of July, bore the
date of the original Commission, namely, the 20th
of May 1442.*
In the year 1450, an Act of Parliament was
passed, for resuming all the King's Grants which had
^ Journal of BiBbop Beckingtoo, Svo. 1828, p. 6.
> Urid, pp. 7, 8« 9 ; Foedera, vol. xi. p. 7. Another example of ante-
dtdng Commissions will be found in the Proceedings of the Priyy Couri*
tSi, ToL y. p. IL
VOL. VI, 11
cxciv PREFACE.
The Great been made since his accession^ and providing that
all future Grants of the Lands so resumed should
be void, unless " those Letters Patent pass by ad-
" vice and assent of your Chancellor and Your
" Treasurer of England, Privy Seal, and six Lords
" of your Great Council for the time being, and
" that they, and each of them, subscribe in such
" Letters Patent their names ; and that the said
" Letters Patent, so subscribed with the names,
" be enrolled in Your Chancery of record." ^ This
regulation explains the occurrence of so many
Signatures to the Acts of the Council, upon
which the Chancellor was to issue Letters Patent,
after the 29th of Henry the Sixth ^; but as no
Patent itself has ever contained the Signatures of
Officers of State, or Members of the Council, the
meaning of the Act must have been that the per-
sons therein mentioned should subscribe, not the
Letters Patent themselves, but the original War—
rants which formed the Chancellor's authority for
issuing them. The whole proceeding is, however,
another proof of the anxiety of the Commons to
prevent improper Grants, though they committed
the mistake of throwing upon numerous indivi-
duals a responsibility, which, to be effectual, ought
to be as little divided as possible ; for there is no
greater error than to attribute security and effi-
ciency, in matters of public business, to numbers.
J Rot. Pari., 29 Hen. VI. vol. v. p. 218.
^ Videposteoy pp. 167, 169, 171, ct seq.
PREFACE. CXCV
On many occasions King Edward the Fourth The Great
enforced his directions in his Letters to the Chan- ^^^^'
cellor by adding his commands in his own hand-
writing. Some riots having occurred at Bristol,
the Chancellor was ordered, by a Letter signed by
the King and sealed with the Signet, to make a
Commission of oyer and terminer for the punish-
ment of the offenders ; and Edward himself wrote
on it, ^ Cosyn, yff ye thynke ye schall have a War-
" rant, thys Our wryten that soffyse unto ye may
" have on made in dew forme ; We pray you
^ hyt fayle not*;" an addition which shews the
King^s doubt whether the Chancellor would con-
sider the Letter itself of sufficient authority. By
^ Warrant," in this instance, was evidently meant
Letters of Privy Seal. About 1465 Sir Robert
Eirkham, Master of the Rolls and Keeper of the
Great Seal, seems to have hesitated in acting
upon Letters of the above description ; and the
King's opinion on the subject was expressed in a
very remarkable manner. He had commanded
Eirkham to issue Letters of safe conduct under
the Great Seal for a Spanish vessel and her . crew
then at Southampton, for which, probably on
account of his not considering the Letter Missive
his proper authority, Letters of Privy Seal, or, as
they are called, *' our Letters of Warrant under our
" Privy Seal," were likewise sent to him. Kirk-
ham nevertheless still hesitated to obey the com-
1 Ex Grig, in Tarr. Lond.
n 2
CXCvi PREFACE*
ThbOrbao: mand (perhaps because he doubted the legality or
expediency of the proceeding), upon which the
King ordered another Letter under the Signet to
be sent to him, wherein, after stating the above
facts, and his Majesty's surprise at his non-com-
pliance, commanded him, that immediately on the
sight of that Letter he should make and deliver the
said instrument without any delay, and that if the
Warrant before issued was not sufficient for his
discharge it should be renewed, ^^Albeitj^ the King
adds, ^^ Our speech to you^ Us thinkeffi^ voas sufft--
" cient Warrant;^ and at the bottom he wrote, in
his own hand, " Sir, We will the premises be sped
" without delay." It is therefore evident that
whatever may have been the opinion of Sir Robert
Kirkhami of the necessity of a Warrant of Privy
Seal to justify him in affixing the Great Seal to
any instrument, the King considered that even his
verbal commands were sufficient for the purpose.^
1 £x Grig, in Turr. Lond. The following is a copy of the original
document:—
« By the King.
** Trusty and welbeloved, we grete you wel, and remembre us
*^ \dX we spake unto you, clerc of our RoUes, to do make a cler
** and sure saufconduite for the Kervel of Spayne, being at SoutK-
*^ ampton, and for the maisfs, Schants, and mari&s of Y same,
•* to be made under our greet seel in due forme. Wherupon,
<< according to })e same entent, our Cousin of Worcesti^ deli^ed
** unto you o^ bres of warrant under o*" p*ve seel, the whioli
** pot w*standing, ye differre to make owt and deli9 our said
" ires of saufcondite, wherof we Svayle; wherfor we charge
** you straytly Y incontinet upon the sight herof ye do make
PREFACE. cxcvri
There are two other instances of additions being Thr Great
made to Bills or Letters Missive by Edward the
Fourth^ In 1479 the Chancellor was ordered to
grant Letters Patent of a corrody in the Monas^
tery of Gloucester to one of the King's servants
upon his Petition, which was signed by Edward
in the usual manner ; and his Majesty wrote
under it, "My Lorde Chanseler, Wee pray you
" spede thys Bille and take hyt for your war-
^ rant." ^ These special instructions were generally
^ven in cases of doubt or difl&culty, or when it
was necessary to countermand a previous order.
Thus, the King having, towards the end of his
reign, ordered that before a Writ " de procedendo"
was issued to the Abbot of St. Benett in Hulme,
an Inquisition should be held, but his "dearest
" Lady mother'' having exerted her influence with
- - ■ ■ ■ ■■■,■■ — I — ■ ■ ■ ■ — . — ■ -
^ and deli? t^em w^oute eny delay, lating you wite Y and yo' war-
^ nnt be not souffisant for yo^ discharge ye shal have it renewed,
^ albe it our speche to you us tbynketh was souffisant warrant •
** and over J>is, we wol and straytly charge you, Thom*s Colt^
•* J^ ye deli9 J?e same ires of saufcondite w^oute eny fee therof or
** ther&r to o' use taking, and w^oute eny delay, as our very
« tmst is in you. Yeven under our signet at our monastery of
^ Saint Alban, ]^ xxix. day of Avril.
^ S'y We toyit the pmyssys be gpeyd xo^oyte delay.
" To cure trusty and welbeloved clerc, Maistr Ro-
^ bert Kirkeh*m, keper of our greet seel, and of our
^ Relies in our Chaimcerie, and our right welbeloved
" Counaellour Thom[as] Colt, clerc of our Hanaper."
1 A very interesting example of the kind by Richard the Third i»
vdl known. Vide Ellis's I^etters illustrative of English History, Second
Series, vol. i»
n a
Cxcviii PREFACE.
Thk Grsat the King to obtain that Writ without any delay.
He, the next day, commanded the Chancellor to
issue and deliver it into the hands of his " said
" most dear Lady mother, to the intent that she
" may use the same as shall be thought best to
" her and to her Council ;" and the Letter proceeds,
" This We wol ye speed in any wise, as Our trust
" is in you ; and these Our Letters shall be unto you
" sufficient Warrant and discharge." The King,
moreover, added, in his own hand, " My Lord
" Chanseler, thys most be don."^
That a Warrant under the Privy Seal might,
in certain cases, be required by the Chancellor,
but that the want of it could be supplied by
special Letters under the King's Sign Manual and
Signet, may be inferred from the proceedings on
the creation to the Earldom of Lincoln of the
King's nephew, John de la Pole, eldest son of the
Duke of Suffolk, in March 1467. On the 10th of
that month, a Letter was written to the Chancellor,
under the Signet and Sign Manual, stating that,
" for so much as We, for divers considerations
" Us moving, have erect, ordained, and create
" Our dear nephew John, son and heir to Our
" right trusty and well beloved brother the Duke
" of Suffolk, Earl of Lincoln, as shall appear
" unto you by Our Letters under Our Signet, which,
" We send unto you by the bearer hereof. We
" therefore desire and pray you, that, by Warrant
^ - J f -^ III.-- - -_^ ■■--I, - ,
' Ex Grig, in Turn Lond.
PREFACE. cxcix
'* of Our said Letters and of these, considering the The Great
" great distance hence and absence of Our Privy Seal^
" ye do make our Letters Patents of the said
" creation, without failing, as Our trust is in you ;
^ wherein ye shall do Us a singular pleasure.
*' Given under Our Signet, at Our Castle of Wind-
" sor, the 10th day of March/' ^
The " Letters " alluded to in that communi-
cation, which resembles what was afterwards, and is
now, called an " immediate Warrant^,'' are also pre-
served. Though said to have been written at the
same time, and forwarded by the same messenger,
they are not dated until two days after ; and they
merely contain a copy of the creation, and the
King's commands to the Chancellor to make Let-
ters Patent under the Great Seal in that form.
They are not signed by the King, but commence
" Per Regem," and bear the following subscrip-
tion : " Data nostro sub Signeto apud Castrum
" nostrum de Wyndesore xij**. die Marcii anno
" regni nostri septimo. Harpisfield." The follow-
ing " Memorandum, quod xiij**. die Marcii anno
" subscripto istud breve liberatum fuit Domino
^ Cancellario Angliae apud Westmonasterium exe-
" quendum," is written at the head of the Bill in a
different hand.^ On the 13th of March, the Chan-
cellor placed the Great Seal to the Earl of Lincoln's
patent ; and it is stated to have been done " per
^ ipsum Regem;
»»3
I £x Grig, in Turr. Lond. ^ Vide p. cciiii postea,
9 Rot Cart 5-8 Edw. IV. n. 4.
n 4
cc PREFACE.
The Great It is deserving of attention, that the language
of all Grants and other documents which convey
the Royal Commands, or give effect to the Royal
intentions, imports that the Grants or Command*
themselves have preceded^ and are independent of, the
written instruments in which they are expressed.
By a flattering fiction, the King's Grants and com-
mands are complete the moment He deigns to signify
his pleasure ; and all subsequent proceedings would
appear to he only necessary for the purpose of
recording His will, and to prevent the same pro-
perty from being granted to others. Nor has the
delusion been removed by the stem fact that the
Law pays little regard to any other manifestation
of the Royal authority than those written instru-
ments, to which one or more responsible Ministera
of the Crown have given their sanction, A ques-
tion has never been entertained of the absolute
necessity of Letters Patent, or of a Charter, under
the Great Seal, to render the King's Grants opera-
tive ; and any declaration of the intention of the
Crown to make a Grant, whether verbally, by
Letters under the Signet, or even by Warrant of
Privy Seal, is wholly useless, unless those preli-
minary measures be completely carried into effect
by the Great Seal.
In the 27th of Henry the Eighth, a Statute
was passed, which, in many points, adopted the pro-
position made by the Council, and signed by the
King, in the 22nd Hen. VL, of rendering a Warrant
of Privy Seal necessary, in most cases, to authorize
PREFACE. CCi
the Chancellor to affix the Great Seal to Grants ThsGrsat
G^ A. T
and other instruments. By that Statute, of which
the professed object was to secure certain fees to
the Clerks of the Signet, it was enacted " that
all and every Gift, Grant, and other Writing which
shall be made or given in writing by the King to
any person, signed with his Sign Manual, to be
passed under any of his Great Seals of England,
Ireland, the Duchy of Lancaster, Counties Pala-
tine,-or Principality of Wales, or by other process
out of the Exchequer, and that all and every
Gifts, Grants, and other Writings, of what name
or quality soever, whereby any the King's officer
or officers then being, or which might afterwards
be, mi^t by virtue of any Act of Parliament, or
any the King's Grants to them or any of them
made,^shaU make any Grant in the King's name,
to he passed under any of his Majesty's Seals,
should be in any wisej first, and before the
said Grants be passed under any of the King's
saki Seals, or other process made of the same^
brought and delivered to the King's Principal
Secretary, or to one of the King's Clerks of his
S^net, to be at the said Office of the Signet
passed accordingly/' The Clerk of the Signet,
to whom any of the said writings signed by the
King, or by the hand of the Officers before men-
tioned might be brought, was, by Warrant of the
same Bills, within eight days (unless informed by
the King's Secretary or otherwise, of the King's
pleasure to the contrary) to make, in the King's
Ccii FBEFACE.
The Great name. Letters of Warrant subscribed by the said
Clerk, and sealed with the King's Signet, to the
Lord Keeper of the King's Privy Seal, for further
process to be had in that behalf. One of the
Clerks of the Privy Seal, upon due examination
*^ had by the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of the
Warrant to him addressed from the office of the
Signet, was, within eight days (unless commanded
to the contrary by the Lord Privy Seal) to make,
by Warrant of the aforesaid Warrant to the Lord
Keeper of the Privy Seal from the office of the
Signet, other Letters of like warranty, subscribed
with the name of the said Clerk of the Privy
Seal, to the Lord Chancellor of England, Lord
Keeper, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,
Chancellor of Ireland, or other Officer, for the
writing and ensealing with the Seals in their
custody respectively, of Letters Patent or closed,
or other process making, due, and requisite to be
had or made upon any the said Grants, accord-
ing to the tenor of the Warrant to them or any
of them directed from the Officer of the Privy
Seal." A penalty of ten pounds was to be im-
posed upon all Clerks or other persons for making
or obtaining any Writing or Warrant upon any
Gift or Grant made by the King to be passed
under any of the said Seals " after any other
" sort, manner, or fashion, or by any other War-
" rants than as are therein specified." Provision
was then made for the payment of fees in cases
where Grants were passed by " Immediate War-
PREFACE. cciii
" rant" ^ From this Act were excepted all War- The Gmat
rants or Precepts which the Lord Treasurer, by
virtue of his Office, might direct immediately to
the Lord Chancellor, or to any other person for
making the King's Grants or Letters Patent to any
person of any Offices or Lands in his gift ; and it
was provided, that the Lord Chancellor " might
^^ at all times use his discretion in passing and
" speeding any thing by the Great Seal, and
" delivering the same, without paying any fees for
" the Great Seal, Signet, and Privy Seal, as the
'^ case of necessity shall require, and as hath
" been accustomed ; and that the Clerks for writ-
" ing or procuring such Writings and Patents,
" by his commandment, should be discharged of
" all penalties for not receiving and paying fees
" to the Signet and Privy Seal." It was declared
that the Act should "not be prejudicial to any
" person whom the King shall, by express com-
" mandment, direct, send, or appoint to procure
" any thing to be sealed with any of his Seals,
" for or concerning his Majesty's private affairs,
" or the affairs of his Realm,'* which might be
^ Aa ^' Immediate Warrant " is the King's written command to pass
the Bill, on which it is expressed, without delay. Its effect is to render
the attachment of the Signet and of the Privy Seal unnecessary, it being
merely stated on the Bill itself, by the Clerk of the Signet, and the
Clerk of the Privy Seal, that it has passed through those Offices. This
notification is, therefore, tantamount, so far as the responsibility of
the Lord Privy Seal is concerned, to a Warrant of Privy Seal, and
forms a sufficient guarantee to the Lord Chancellor that the measure
has received the sanction of that Officer.
Thb Great obtained without such person being bound to pro-
cure any manner of Warrant or paying any fees ;
and it was also provided that the Act should not
affect grants of leases of farms under the yearly
value of £6. ISs. 4d'
Although the Statute of the 27th of Hen^ VIIL
seems to have rendered it imperative for all Crown
Grants^ (except those therein excepted) to pro-
ceed upon a Warrant under the Signet to the
Keeper of the Privy Seal, whose Warrant be-
comes the authority to the Great Seal, both Lord
Coke and Mr. Justice Blackstone speak of Letters
Patent " being passed by Bill signed, without Privy
" Seal ^;" notwithstanding that the former of these
learned writers has, in another of his works,
1 Stat.27Heii.VIIL c-ll.
2 AmoDg the charges brought against CardiDal Wolsey, as Lord Chan-
cellor, seven years before this Statute^ two were that he had affixed, the
Great Seal to a Commission and to Licences without the King's Warrant
or Commandment. (4 Inst. pp. 89, 90.) When the new Court of Aug-
mentations was about to be created, it was proposed that all Grants
made by its authority should pass under its own Seal only; upon
which Wriothesley, the Lord Chancellor, wrote to the King's Principal
Secretary, stating that by such a regulation " the estimation of the
*< Court of the Chancery, and of the Great Seal of England, shall
<' thereby so much decay, as my firm trust is, hb Majesty, who of
<< his own goodness made me his Chancellor, will not suffer it to do in
" my time ;" and he prayed the King << to preserve the course of his most
" ancient Court and Seal, with the poor estimation and living of his
Ministers, as it fall not now to the ground, which sithens the Con-
quest hath been ever specially preserved." The Chancellor's prin-
cipal motive was, evidently, lo prevent the loss of fees to himself and
the Officers of his Court which would ensue from the proposed alteration*
(State Papers, vol. L p. 882.)
3 8 Co. i 8 b. ; Commentaries, voL ii. p. 34f6.
it
{
PREFACE. CCV
alluded to this gradation of Offices as shewing ThbGrbat
" the wisdom of prudent antiquity^/' whilst the
latter mentions a " variety of Offices, commu-
" nicating in a regular subordination one with
" another, through which all the King's grants
" must passV' in the very same page in which he
points out an exception to the practice. It was
therefore desirable to ascertain, by inquiries at the
proper Offices, what Patents now pass the Great
Seal, without the intervention of the Signet, or
Privy Seal; and it appears that the only instru-
ments of the nature of a Grant under the Great
Seal, for which a Warrant of Privy Seal is not
required, are those for the appointment of the
Judges ^ the Attorney and Solicitor General, King's
Seqeants*, Kings Counsel, and the Officers for the
conservation of the River Thames/ The Warrants
I Second Institute, p. 556 ; vide p. clxxxvi, arUea,
s Commentaries, vol. iL p, 546. Lord Coke does not appear to have
considered this subject with his usual attention, when he adverted to it
in loB Eighth Report, for he there says that ** if the words * authoritate
** ^Flurliamenti' be added to a Patent, then it passes according to the Act
^ of 27 Heil.VUI. c. 11 ;" whereas those words were added in conse-
quence of the Statute of the 18th Hen. VI., nearly one Hundred yeart
h^brt. Vide p. clzxr, antecu
* The Lord Chief Justice of England is not, however, appointed by
Patent, but is commanded to take upon himself that Office, by a Writ
under the Great Seal. (Fourth Institute, pp. 74, 75.) The Patents
appointing the Master of the RoDs, Vice-Chancellor, and Masters in
Giaocery are issued pursuant to Warrants of Privy SeaL
< Seijeants at Law are called by Writ under Warrants prepared in the
Crown Office, and signed by the King. Vide 12th Report, p. 70.
< The following are said to be the only Instruments (and they cer-
tainly are soy as far as concerns the Crown Office), which now pass the
Great Seal, pursuant to Warrants signed by the Kingi without War-
ccvi PREFACE.
The Great upon which the Letters Patent for those Offices
issue, are prepared at the Crown Office, by the
Chancellor's order, and he obtains the King's
Signature to them, without their passing through
rants of Privy Seal, and without being entered either at the Office of
Privy Seal or of the Signet.
Patents, appointing the Chief Justices and Chief Baron ; the
Puisne Judges and Pubne Barons, and the Cursitor Baroo;
the Attorney and Solicitor General, and the Attorney General
in Wales; King's Counsel; King's Serjeants; for granting
Precedence to Counsel; and for appointing Custodes Rotu-
lorum for Counties and Towns.
Commissions, for opening and proroguing Parliament; forgiving
the Royal Assent to Bills ; for appointing Speakers of the
House of Lords ; for approving of Speakers of the House of
Commons ; for appointing certain of the Judges and Masters
in Chancery to sit in the Court of Chancery to hear causes,
&C., in the absence of the Lord Chancellor, which is called
the Chancery Commission.
Warrants, for regulating the Precedency of Serjeants at Law,
and for appointing a Baron of the Exchequer to sit on the
Equity side of that Court, in the absence of the Chief Baron,
are signed by the King, but no Letters Patent are issued
thereupon.
From the Patent Office no Instruments of any kind pass the Great
Seal, without a Warrant of Privy Seal. There are, however, several
Commissions, sealed with the Great Seal and prepared in the Crown
Office, for which the direct authority W the King is not necessary, as
they are prepared and receive the Great Seal upon the fiat of the Lord
Chancellor only ; viz.. Commissions for holding the Circuits in England
and Wales ; Commissions of Peace in England, Scotland, and Wales ;
Special Commissions of Oyer and Terminer for the trial of prisoners
under certain circumstances^ and other Commissions for the Adminis-
tration of Justice. Although Patents appointing the Judges in England
(except the Master of the Rolb and Vice-chancellor) pass without
Warrants of Privy Seal, such Warrants are issued for granting Patents
of the Offices of Chief Justices and Puisne Judges in India. The Judges
in the Colonies are appointed by a Royal Warrant which issues from the
Colonial Office.
PREFACE. ccvii
the Secretary of State's, or Lord Privy SeaVs THBGRBAt
Office. As the clause in the Statute of the
27th Hen. VIII. relating to the Lord Chancellor,
only gives him power to dispense with the pay-
ment of fees, the custom of Patents of appoint-
ments to the situations above mentioned passing
the Great Seal, without Warrant of Privy Seal is,
probably, derived from prescription, and, like the
power of affixing the Great Seal to Writs of Sum-
mons to Pariiament^, and to Writs and Com-
missions connected with the Chancery, must,
perhaps, be considered incidental to the Office
itself. The authority of the Lord Chancellor to
pass certain Grants of Pardon without first taking
the King's pleasure thereupon, is recognized by
the Parliamentary Proceeding of the 13th Ric. 11.
1389, before alluded to^; and it is likely that
many other privileges of a similar nature formerly
belonged to that Functionary.
The duties of the Lord Privy Seal are con-
sequently of a highly important character, though
I Writs of Summons to Peers to attend Parliament, on succeeding to
the FeengCy are issued upon the written order of the Lord Chancellor
to the Clerk of the Crown, after his Lordship is satisfied, by evidence, of
the r^ht of the party to the dignity. Writs of Summons to newly
created Peers are issued by the Clerk of the Crown upon the production
of the Patent of Creation, which is considered his authority, without
any order from the Lord Chancellor.
For the information contained in these notes, the Editor is principally
indebted to the obliging communications of Mr. Jackson of the Crown
Office, Mr. Ruscoe of the Patent Ofice, and Mr. Goodwin of the
Privy Seal Office.
Vide p. clzxxiv, antea.
ccviii PREPACK-
Thh Great that Office is now, erroneously, supposed to involve
little or no responsibility. In the reign of Henry
the Sixth it was his duty, on receiving the King's
Warrant under the Signet, if the matter was of
great weight, to communicate it to the Council
before he issued a Warrant to the Great Seal for
carrying it into effect *; and Lord Coke says, " This
^^ is an Office of great trust and skill, that he put
" this Seal to no Grant without good Warrant, nor
" with Warrant if it be against Law, undue, or
^^ inconvenient, but that first he acquaint the King
« therewith."^
From the reign of Henry the Eighth to the pre-
sent time, the usage, with respect to Letters Patent,
has been consistent with the Statute ; and it was thus
described by one of the Under Secretaries of State
for the Home Department® to the Parliamentary
Committee on the Public Records in 1801 : —
" Some Warrants are only signed by the King
" and countersigned by the Secretary of State and
<* the Lords of the Treasury ; and a Warrant of
** this sort is called a Sign Manual. All Warrants
^ for Crown Grants which pass the Great Seal, and
" which arise in the Offices of the Secretary of
" State or of the Lords Commissioners of the
" Treasury, are signed by the King, and counter-
" signed by such Secretary, or three or more of
" such Lords, and are directed to the Attorney Ge-
" neral only, to the Attorney or Solicitor General,
1 p. S19, poHea. 3 Fourth Institute^ p. 55.
3 William Pollock, Esquire.
PREFACE. ccix
" or to both^; in the first case all respecting the The Gr bat
" Peerage only, in the second on all ordinary occa-
^ sions, and in the third on grants of Charters.
^ The Lords of the Admiralty, the Earl Mar-
^ shal, and the Lord Chamberlain of the House*-
" hold, issue their Warrants (not signed by the King)
" to the Attorney or Solicitor General for pre-
^ paring Bills for the grant of Offices under their
** patronage, which pass the Great Seal ; and which
^ (after the Attorney or Solicitor General have
" signed them) have also, in like manner, the
" King's signature procured through the Secre-
** tary of State.
" These Warrants require those Law Officers
(or Officer) to prepare a Bill * for Our Royal sig-
^ nature, containing our Grant unto our trusty,
" • &€• of the Office or Place,' &c, ; and in most
cases direct — ^ and you are to insert therein all
such clauses and provisoes as you shall think
necessary.' In others, as in Commissions to
•* Governors of Plantations, they are directed to
^ prepare a Bill for the Royal signature ^ in the
^ ' words or to the effect following,' and no lati-
^ tude is left to them, as the form of such Com-
^ missions must have been settled many years
" since. The same rule is observed in all grants
" of Charters ; but drafts of such Charters are pre-
** viously settled by such Law Officers, on a
4«
1 It has not been ascertained when the practice of issuing Warrants to
the Law Officers of the Crown to prepare Bills commenced, but probably
soon after the Revolution of 16S9.
VOL. VI.
QQx PR£FAC£«
The Great " reference and direction to their report upon the
" application made for the same.
" The Grants of ordinary Preferments in the
** Church are an exception to this rule, as the
^ Warrants signed by the King for such are directed
" in like manner *to the Clerk of the Signet
" * attending to prepare a Bill granting,' &c., and
*^ the Attorney or Solicitor General have no con-
^ cern therein.
" When such Bill is prepared and signed by
^ those Law Ofl&cers (or Officer), the person em-
" ployed as solicitor brings it to the Secretary of
" State's ofl&ce for the King's signature being
" obtained to it. It is there called the Attorney
" General's Bill (or the Attorney and Solicitor
" General's, as the case may be) ; the person em-
" ployed as solicitor takes it from thence, when
" signed by the King, to the Signet Office, where
^^ it is called the King's Bill, and is there deposited
^ and remains on record; an attested transcript
" thereof, under the hand of the clerk or deputy
** attending, being made and handed over to the
" Privy Seal Office, with a direction preceding to
^ it, addressed to the Lord Privy Seal, that ^he
" * cause these our Letters to be directed to our
" ' Chancellor of Great Britain, commanding him
^* * that under our Great Seal of Great Britain (in
^ ^ his custody being) he cause these our Letters
" * to be made forth Patent in form following;'
" and at the foot of this instrument, — ' and these
" < our Letters shall be your sufficient warrant and
PREFACE. ccxi
^ * discharge. Given under our Signet at our ThbGrbat
^ * palace at Westminster the day of
^ * in the year of our reign.' To this
^ instrument the King's Signet (being one of the
^ Seals in the hands of the Secretary of State)
^ is affixed* This is the Warrant to the Lord
^ Friyy Seal, and remains in his hands ; a similar
^ transcript^ with the addition at the head of it,
" — * addressed to the Lord Chancellor, to cause
^ * Letters Patent to be passed conformably thereto
" * under the Great Seal,' has the Privy Seal affixed
« to it ; which instrument is lodged at the proper
" Office in Chancery (the Crown Office or that of
" the Clerk of the Letters Patent), where it is
^ opened, the Privy Seal is taken off, and an
engrossment is made of it The instrument
called the Privy Seal, being marked in that
^ Office with the day it is left, is, with the
^ ^grossment for the Great Seal to be affixed to,
^ left at the Lord Chancellor's ; and if his Lord-
•* diip sees no objection to the Grant he writes
^ his name under ; and this is called ^ the Kecepi,'
"^ and the Great Seal is then affixed, which com-
^ pletes the Grant. The instrument called the
^ Privy Seal, being returned to the Office which
•* ^igrossed it for the Great Seal, after a cer-
•* tain time is removed to the Petty Bag, and so
** on to the Rolls, and remains on record."^
1 Fint Beport from the Select Committee appointed to inquire into
the State of the Pnblic Records of the Kingdom. Ordered by the
House of Lords to be printed ISth March 1801. p. 78.
o2
u
M
ccxii PREFACE.
TheGrbax An erasure or interlineation in the King's
Bill or Letter Missive to the Chancellor seems, for-
merly, to have affected its validity. Edward the
Fourth having, about the year 1470, ordered a
*' Diet'* to be kept at Alnwick for the reformation
of attempts against the truce with Scotland, the
Chancellor was commanded, bv Letters Missive,
to issue the usual proclamations; and after the
date the following passage occurs : —
" Over this We send to you herein closed a
Bill, signed with Our hand, containing the tenor
of a Commission for the Diet to be kept the
" day abovesaid, wherein We will that ye put in
" the quorum the Bishops of Durham and Saint
^^ Asaph ; and how be it that the same Bill is rased
" and interlined, not seeming effectual for your
*^ Warrant, We will that you do make out our Com-
" mission, and name the said Bishops in the quo-
« rum, and that ye do make out our safe-conduct
^* for the Commissioners of Scotland, according to
" the names which we sent unto ye from our town
" of Northampton ; and these our Letters shall be
" to you Warrant sui&cient in that behalf. Given
" under our Signet at Ludlow, the 26th day of
May abovesaid. We send unto you herein a
Bill of directions for the hasty expedience and
sending forth of all the matters abovesaid, which
" we desire and pray you hastily to put, and other-
^* wise as our very trust is in you."^
Ex orig. in Turr. Lond.
PREFACE. ccxiii
It was not usual for the King himself to sign Thb Great
his Letters. They were authenticated by the ^"^*
Signet only; and whenever the King did affix
his Signature, it was to impart greater force
to them. Some instances of the King having
placed his Signature to Letters have been cited,
to which will be added a remarkable case that
occurred in 1449, when Henry the Sixth affixed
his initials, at the head and foot of an Ordinance ^
to the Treasurer and Chamberlains of the Exche-
quer, stating, that "to the intent that the said
" Treasurer and Chamberlains shall more well
^ understand and know, that it is the King's full
" will and commandment that the things above-
" said, and every of them, be fully done and
" executed, the King hath signed this Act with
^ his own hand.*' ^
ITiough only one example® has been found of
the King's having signed a Letter of Privy Seal^
there may, probably, be others ; but it certainly
was less usual for him to do so than to sign
Letters Missive. On all occasions when the Trea-
surer and Chamberlains of the Exchequer were
directed to make any payments, they received
Letters under the Privy Seal, and not under
the Signet ; and the greater degree of impor-
tance which was attached to the former than to
1 In the instances of Messages from the King to Parliament it is still
the custom for his Majesty to affix his signature at the foot as well as at
the head of the Message.
2 p, 87, postea. » p. 234', postetu
O 3
ccxiv PREFACE.
The Great the latter, is manifested by the Minutes of the
Council in October 1442, when Letters to the
Duke of York, fixing the day on which he and
the other English Ambassadors were to meet those
of France (with whom they had been previously
appointed to treat for peace,) atnd Letters to Lord
Sudeley, the Chamberlain, who was also abroad^
were ordered to be passed under the Signet^ whilst
Letters to the Lord Marchers, commanding them
to make good ordinances and rules to prevent
riots in the Marches, were issued under the Privy
SeaV
The King's Letters generally commenced
f* Depar le Roi," or " By the King,'' a style which
was used by no other person, except the Prince
of Wales, who, in the reign of Henry the Fourth,
began his Letters to the Council ** Depar le
^ Prince V' but he does not appear to have done
50 when addressing the King*^
The Answers to Petitions were commonly,
but not always, written at the head, and signed
by a Member of the Council *, who, in the reign
of Henry the Fifth and Sixth, was generally the
Chamberlain/ On some occasions Henry the
Fifth signified his pleasure on Petitions in his
1 Plroceedings of the Council, toL v. p. 215*
3 KM. voL L pp. 231> 233 ; vol. iL pp. 61, 62.
3 Ibid. vol. i. p. 229.
. * Ibid. vol. L pp. 77, 78, 89, 94s 96, et passim ; voL ii. pp. 113, 114.
5 Ibid, volii. pp. 140, 170, 311, 338, 339-342; voLiii. p. 99; voL v.
pp. 85, 112, 115; vol vi. p. 326.
PxlCrAC£k CCXV
own handwriting ^; but there are numerous Peti- Ths Great
tions in the Tower, which were not signed by any
one, though the King's Answers are expressed in
them, and though they were sent to the Chancellor
to issue Letters Patent upon them.
Bills to the Chancellor commonly, though not
always, bore the signature either of the Clerk of
the Crown, or of one of the Clerks of the Signet ;
and it may be inferred from the Ordinance made
m the 22nd Hen. VI., that the authority for affixing
the Signet to all instruments was then derived
immediately from the King, through his Secre-
tary.*
It was usual to affix all his Majesty's Seals
to instruments of a very important nature, such as
Treaties, Instructions to Ambassadors ^ the King's
Will, &C., which were accordingly often sealed
with the Great Seal, the Privy Seal, and the Signet,
and with any other Seal which related to the ter-
ritories mentioned therein. Henry the Sixth sealed
his Will with his Great Seal, the Seal of the Duchy
of Lancaster, the Seal which he had appointed
for the Castles and Lands which he had put in
feoffi[nent, as well as with the Signet which he
himself used in his own government of the said
Duchy, and with the Signet of his Arms ; and
1 Proceedings of the Council, toL iL pp. d02, S04> 315.
^ p. 318,/MWfea.
^ Among numerous examples of this practice, see Proceedings of the
Council, ToL L pp. 172, 240; vol iL pp. 24, 202; and the Foedera,
/XUltflf.
O 4
Gcxvi PREFACE.
The Great the Will of Henry the Seventh was sealed with
his Privy Seal, his Signet which was in the cus-
tody of his Secretary, his Privy Signet of the
Eagle, which was in his own keeping, and with
the Great Seal.
Considerable importance was given to the
Royal Sign Manual, and to the Signet, in the 27th
of Henry VHI. by a Statute S which provided that
if any person should forge and counterfeit the
King's Sign Manual, Privy Signet, or Privy Seal,
such oiFence should be adjudged High Treason ; and
that the offenders^ their counsellors, procurers,
aiders, and abettors, convicted of the same, should
1 Stat 27 Hen. VIIL c 2. The following facts shew the importance
which was attached to the Signet in the reign of Henry the Eighth.
In June 1543, the Council with the King | informed their colleagues in
London, that to the intent they might have all things at hand there
for levying men for the army about to be sent to France, '^ and for the
f^ expedition of other things requisite in this behalf, His Majesty hath
** commanded as well me, the Lord Privy Seal, to send unto your Lord-
*< ships the Stamp, as me the Secretary to send unto you, my Lord
'< Chamberlain of Household, His Majesty's Signet, requiring you, my
'< said Lord Chamberlain, as soon as you shall have dispatched the
*< Letters for the purpose abovesaid, to send unto me, the said Secretary,
** the Signet again, by a trusty messenger ; because the use of the same
** here is necessary, both for His Majesty's causes, and also for the private
<* suites and matters of his subjects.'' A few days afterwards, the
Council in London, in a letter to the Council with the King, stated,
that '< the Lord Admiral hath been with us, and hath brought unto ua
« a Warrant signed with the King*s Highness hand. And forasmuch as
« we sent to you, yesterday, the Signet back again, we have thought
" good to send abo the Warrant again to you, which it may like you
♦* to cause to be signed, and to be sent to us, with all diligence, who will
« immediately make the direction of the same accordingly." State
Papers, vol. i. pp. 746, 74-7, 755.
PREFACE. ccxvii
be condemned and adjudged traitors against the TnEGREAt
King and the Kealm, and suffer the usual pains of
death and forfeitures, as in cases of High Treason
is ordained. On the accession of Edward the
Sixdi, the penalties of High Treason were taken
away from many offences ; but that of forging the
Koyal Sign Manual, Privy Signet, or Privy Seal was
specially excepted.^ Queen Mary, immediately
after she ascended the throne, in her anxiety
to render herself more popular than her prede-
cessor, swept away the penalties of High Treason
from all crimes which were not declared to be such
by the Statute of the 25th Edw. IH, ^; but the
necessity of rendering it High Treason to counter-^
feit the Coin of the Kealm, or the Queen's Sign
Manual, Privy Signet, or Privy Seal, caused aix
Act to be passed for that purpose, only a few
months afterwards.^
Before concluding these remarks on the King's
Seals it ought to be added, that on occasions when
the Signet was not at hand, it was usual to substi-»
tute one of the King's other small Seals for it ; but
the circumstance was usually noticed in the Letter
or Bill itself. Thus, a Letter from Henry the Fiflh,
dated at Dover on the 8th of June 1421, is said to
have been " Given under our Signet of the Eagle iik
I Stat. 1 Edw. VI. c. 12. § 8. It is erroneously stated in Ruffliead*s
edition of the statutes, vol. ii. p. 210, that the statute 27 Hen. VIII. c. 2,
respecting the Sign Manual, Privy Signet, and Privy Seal was rtpealed
by Stat. 1 Edw. VI. c. 12.
^ Stat 1 Mar. c. L ' Stat 1 Mar. sessio secunda, c.6.
ccxviii PREFACE.
The Grbat « the absence of our other *;" and it would appear
from an order of the Council in May 1454, that
the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster had been
commanded not to consider any Letter his proper
Warrant for matters concerning certain of the
Duchy lands, if it were sealed with any other Seal
than the Signet of the Eagle ; and he was informed
that the Privy Seal was thenceforward not only to
be a sufficient authority to him, but he was directed
to obey no other Warrants than such as were under
the Privy Seal.^
Three Seals are said to be now delivered to each
Secretary of State by the King on his appointment ;
namely, " the Signet," which contains the Royal
Arms and Supporters ; another Seal, of a smaller
size, having an escutcheon of the King's Arms
only ; and a still smaller Seal, called "the Cachet,'*
which is similarly engraved. The use of the
Signets has been already pointed out; and the
circumstance of their being constantly required in
the Signet Office for Warrants to the Privy Seal,
probably caused the existence of the second Seal
above mentioned, which always remains in the
Secretary of State's Offices, and is affixed to the
instruments which receive the Royal Signature,
and which, but for the reason just stated, would
pass under the Signet. The Cachet is only used
for sealing the King's Letters to Sovereign Princes,
which custom, perhaps, originated from the incon-
J Ex orig, in Turn Lond. 2 p, igg^ pasUa.
LAIN,
PREFACE. CCXix
Tenience of affixing so large a Seal as the Signet, Tae Great
or its substitute, to a Letter.
THE KING'S CHAMBERLAIN.
It is not generally known that the King's King's
Chamberlain, or, as he is now called, the Lord «^*«""-
Chamberlain of the King's Household, in addi-
tioH to his present duties, originally performed
others of a very different, and much more impor-
tant character.^
From the earliest periods both the Great
Chamberlain of England and the King's Cham-
berlain, have always been two of the Principal
Officers of State ; and the latter was for some
centuries an influential member of the Govern-
ment. To him was confided the responsible duty
of indorsing upon all Petitions presented to the
King, his Majesty's answers ; and the following
facts will shew the consideration in which the
< The Office of Chamberlain, instead of being, as is sometimes sup-
posed, confined to the mere superintendence of chambers and ward-
robes, was generally of a ^fiscal nature. Thus, the Chamberlains of the
Exchequer were the Comptrollers of the pells, receipts, and exitus
of the King's treasury, to whom, conjointly with the Treasurer, all
orders for the receipt and payments of money were formerly addressed.
The Chamberlains of London and Chester are the Receivers of the
Rerenues of those Cities ; and such also were the principal duties of the
Chamberiains of Scotland, of North and South Wales, of the Duchy of
Lancaster; of Berwick, Cardiganshire, Caermarthenshire, Shrewsbury^
and other places. Blount says, <* the Latin word seems to express the
'* functions of this Officer; for Camerarius dicitur i Camera, i.e. tes-
** tudine (sive fomice), quia custodit pecunias, quae in Cameris praecipu^
*' reaervantur."
ccxx PREFACE.
King's King's Chamberlain was held, and the impor-
Chjlm ber*
LAIN, tance which was attached to that part of his
functions. •
The King's Chambeblain* was usually, though
not always, a Peer of the Realm ; and he was
frequently the organ through which the Royal
pleasure was communicated to Parliaments and to
the Council.^ He was often appointed to assist
the Triers of Parliamentary Petitions^, and to aid
the execution of Ordinances made by the King
and Council.* In the 15th Edw. III. 1341, the
Chamberlain of the King's Household, with the
other Officers of State, was ordered to be sworn
on his appointment, to keep and maintain the
Laws of the land, and the articles of the Great
Charter, as well as the other Statutes.^ Towards
the close of that reign Lord Latimer was im-
peached for extortions and other crimes committed
by him in Brittany, whilst he was Chamberlaia
and a Member of the Privy Council.®
It was provided, in the 1st year of Richard the
Second, that during the King's minority his " Chief
^^ Chamberlain" and other Great Officers should be
1 Among the earliest Dotices of the Chamberlain is a record, that in
the 9th John, 1208, the King had received, by the hands of Simon the
Chamberlain, at Waverley, " a book called Pliny," which had been ia
the custody of the Abbot and Convent of Reading. Rot. Glaus., voL i,
p. 108.
2 Rot. Pari., 18 Edw. IT., 25 Edw. III., vol.ii. pp. 150 b, 237.
^ Ibid. 25 Edw. III., et passim.
* Ibid. 50, 51 Edw. III. vol. iL pp. 328, 363.
* Ibid. p. 128. 6 Ibid. 50 Edw. III. vol. ii. p. 324 b-
PREFACE. ccxxi
chosen by the Lords in Parliament ; to which the Kino's
Crown assented, saving always the estate and inherit- i^aik.
ance of the Earl of Oxford, whose* ancestor had
been created Great Chamberlain of England, to
hold, to him and his heirs, the said office of Cham-*
berlain.^ Three years after, the Commons prayed
that the five Principal Officers, namely, the Chan-
cellor, Treasurer, Keeper of the Privy Seal, " Chief
" C!hamberlain*," and Steward of the King's House-
hold, might be chosen in that Parliament from the
ablest persons in the Realm, and be continued
in office until the next Parliament.* In the
11th Ric. IL, Sir Simon de Buriey, who had been
the King's Chamberlain, was impeached for having
admitted great numbers of aliens into the Royal
Household, and for having made divers grants to
them*; and the next entry on the Rolls of Parlia-
ment on the subject, in the 13th Ric. IL 1389»
shews that it was then, and had probably long be-
fore been, the custom for the King's Chamberlain to
indorse Petitions j and that the office of " Sub" or
" Under" Chamberlain, or, as it was afterwards
called, ** Vice Chamberlain," then existed.
In accordance with the request of the Com-
mons in that year, that penalties should be inflicted
upon those Peers and other personages who might
1 Rot Pari, 50 Edw. III. vol iiL p. 16.
' The title << Chief Chamberlain" seems to have been used as a dis-
tinction from ** Under Chamberlain/' rather than as indicating the Office
of Great Chamberlain of England.
^ Rot. Pari. 3 Ric II., voL iii. p. 73 b. ^ Jhid. p. 242.
ccxxii PREFACE.
Chamber- solicit patdons for Certain offences, the King, after
LAIN, saving his rights and prerogatives^, consented that if
any one petitioned him for a Charter of Pardon
for the offences specified, and if the Chamberlain
indorsed such Bill, or caused it to be indorsed, he
should put the name of him who prayed for such
Charter upon the said Bill, under a penalty of one
thousand marks ; that if the Under-Chamberlain
indorsed such Bill, he should do the same, under
the penalty of five hundred marks ; that none but
the Chamberlain or Under-Chamberlain should in-
dorse such Bills, or cause them to be indorsed,
under the penalty of one thousand marks; that
such Bill should be sent and directed to the Keeper
of the Privy Seal ; that no Warrant of Privy Seal
should be issued to make such a Charter, unless the
Keeper of the Privy Seal received a Bill for that
purpose, indorsed or signed by the Chamberlain or
Under-Chamberlain, as is above said ; that no
Charter of Pardon of treason or other felony should
jpass the Chancery without a Warrant of Privy Seal,
except in cases where the Chancellor might grant
them by his Office, without consulting the King ;
and that the penalties proposed by the Commons
should be inflicted upon all persons, of whatever
rank, who might obtain pardons for the offences
m question.^
1 "Le Roy voet, sauver sa Liberie et Regalie come ses progenitours
*' ount faitz devant ses heures/' &c«
3 Rot ParU voL iiL p. 26S.
PREFACE. ccxxiii
On the accession of Henry the FourthS when Exko*s
more attention was paid to Legal forms, the Com* ^^^^.
mens requested that the King's Chamberlain and
Under-Chamberlain should be sworn not to take
any brocage or gift, upon pain of forfeiture of their
property, and imprisonment ; and it was soon after
ordered, that persons who had presented Petitions
to the King, and had not been able to obtain
answers to them, should apply to the Chamberlain
and Council.^
In May 1406 the King's Chamberlain was
appointed a Member of the Council, by authority
of Parliament ; and it was at the same time or*
dered that thenceforward Bills to be indorsed by
the Chamberlains, and Letters addressed under the
King's Signet, and mandates to the Chancellor,
Treasurer, and Keeper of the Privy Seal, and to
all other Officers, should be indorsed or made
by the advice of the Council.' The Commons
iurther prayed, that Officers under the Cham->
berlain might not act by Deputy ; that he should
execute his duties faithfully, without taking any
thing for so doing ; and that he should be sworn
in Parliament to observe the Common and Statute
Law and Ordinances, as well relating to the King's
Hottsdliold, as for the good government of the
Realm/ That the Office of Under-Chamberlain was
of high rank in the reign of Henry the Fourth, may
I Rot. ParL, 1 Hen. IV. 1399, toL iii. p. 4SS. 2 JincL p. 444.
» Ibid. p. 572. 4 Snd. pp. 587, 588.
ccxxiv PREFACE*
Kino's be inferred from the circumstance of its being held
df AMB£R* _^_ _
LAIN, by Sir Thomas Erpingham, a person of distin-
guished reputation, a Privy Councillor, and a Knight
of tlie Garter, who, when he impeached the Bishop
of Norwich in Parliament, stood between the Duke
of York and tlie Earl of Warwick, and was then
described by the King as " son bon et loial Liege,
^* et q'il est sage et vaillant Chivaler." ^
In the various Ordinances for the regulation
of the Council, the King's Chamberlain is always
described as a Member ex officio ^; and numerous
instances occur, in this work, of his having signed
or indorsed Petitions, in conformity with the regu-
lations referred to, and more particularly with the
remarkable Ordinance of the 22nd Hen. VI., which
has been so often cited. The importance which
was attached to the Duke of Gloucester's dismissal
of Lord Cromwell from the Chamberlainship in
1432, and his indignant remonstrance, have been
commented upon.^
By the Statute of Westminster, in the
13th Edw. I. 1285, the preamble to which is
as follows : " Concerning the King's Marshals of
^' Fee, Chamberlains, Porters in the circuit of
** Justices, and Serjeants bearing vierge before
<* Justices at Westminster, which have the same
<* Offices in fee, and that ask more by reason of
** their fee than they have used to ask, whereupon
1 Rot. Pari, 2 Hen. IV. voL iii. p. 4!56.
2 Proceedings of the Council^ voL L pp. iii, S4tf 86.
^ Ibid. ToLiv. pp. xli, xliii.
PREFACE. CCXXV
44
44
C4
«4
" many do complain on them that have known King's
ChAMBKR'
" and seen the order of the Court of long time ; our lain.
Lord the King hath caused to be inquired by
an inquest what the said Officers of fee have
" used to have in times passed ; — it was ordained
^ and commanded, that the King's Chamber-
" lains from henceforth shall have of Archbishops,
^ Bishops, Abbots, Priors, and other persons Spi-
^ ritual, of Earls and Barons holding an entire
" Barony, a reasonable fine when they do their
" homage or fealty ; and if they hold by a part of
a Barony, they shall take a reasonable fine, ac-
cording to the portion to them belonging. Other
^^ Abbots, Priors, and other persons Spiritual and
" Temporal, that hold no entire Barony, nor part
^ of a Barony, shall not be distrained to make fine,
" as it is said by them that hold by a Barony or
" part of a Barony ; but the Chamberlain shall be
** contented with his upper garment, or with the
** price thereof; which is done in favour of persons
" religious more than of lay persons, for it is
^ more convenient that religious men should fine
" for their upper garment than be stripped."
In the 11th of Henry the Sixth, it was de-
termined that the Chamberlain should not be
appointed by the Council without the assent of
the Duke of Bedford ^ and that he should not
be removed at the pleasure of the King's pre-
ceptor.*
» Rot Pari, voL iv. p. 424. » Und. p. 433.
VOL. VI. p
ccxxvi PREFACE.
Kino's The duties and nature of the King's Cham-
Chambeb- ...
LAIN, berlam in the reign of King Edward the Fourth
are fully described in the Regulations ordained for
the government of his Household^; a^d all that
1 << A Chambbrlatn for the Kino in Household, the Grete Officer
<< sitting in the Kinges chambre ; and when it requireth for matters to
'< be comyned of the Kinges Counsayle, then his metes and soupers in
" his own chaumber, or elles with other estates of the household, as it
*< shall seme hym best He taketh his brekefast, if he wulle, in opyn
" dayes ; he presenteth, chargeth, and dischargeth all suche persounes as
** be of the Kinges chaumbre, except all suche officers of household as
<' ministre for any yytayle for the Kinges mouthe, or for his chambre ;
'< for all those take theire charge at the grene cloth in the oountyng
<< house. This is the chief hed of rulers in the Kinges chambre. Item»
'' as often as he chargeth or dischargeth any new person in the chaum-
<< bre, to present those persones and names into the countynghouse.
<^ Item, he hath the punition of all them that are longing to the
^* chaumber for any offence or outrage; savynge the right of the
" countynghouse in chekking them for theire vacations, or for lak of
<' recordes, or mysse recording, or for loss of torches, naperye, pottes,
<< cuppes, woode, or suche other stuffe comyng fro the Thesaurers
" charge, and by them so miscarried. The Chaumberlayn taketh his
*' othe and staffe of the King, or of his Counsayle. He shall at no
'< tyme within this Courte be covered in his service. He may have
** etyng in the hall ij. esquiers, ij. yomen ; and for the yoman and other
<< keping his chaumbre and for his proper lyverey at nygh^ in wpjn
<< dayes, vj. loves, iiij. messes of grete mete and roste, one picher wyne»
" iiij. gallons of ale, one torche, one percher, iiij. candelles wax,
V). candelles peris' ; for wynter lyverey, \j. tallwood, iij. faggotts, the
larger bycause he shuld take no thing of suohe stuffe frooi the KiJtg's
« chaumber, nor suffer none to be taken away but for worshipp to the
** King. He taketh also for somer lyverey iij. tallwood, one feggot,
*^ russhes, and litter, all the yere, of the Sergeaunt Usher of the hall
<< and chaumber, and of all other vytayle and stuffe as he shall have
'< nede to within this household, gevyng ensaumple of his content and
" moderate costages in court, bothe to the Kinges honour and profit.
<< Item, for his robes, at Cristmas and Whitsontide, of the countyng
<< house, by evyn portions, 8 marks ; and for his fees at Michaelmas and
it
PREFACE. ccxxvii
need be added on the subject is, that the Office Kino's
Ohambbr*
has ever since been held by persons of high lain.
rank ; that by the Statute for Precedency, in the
31st Hen. YIIL, the King^s Chamberlain is placed
next after the Lord Steward, and above all other
persons of the same degree that he may happen
" Easter^ by even portions^ 10 marks. This groweth to hym from the
^' hoQseholdy and not of the Jewell-house^ nor of the King*s warderobe,
^ for the favour and help that he shulde owe in assisting the Stewarde,
** Thesaurere, and other officers of householde, in speking to the King's
** Iffi^iAesse or to his noble Counsayle, Icnr the ayde and goode con*
** tiinuuioe oi the honorable oonductes of his households Item, whan
** Jijmself is absent from Courte he levith a yoman to kepe his
<< chaumber, and purvey for his lyverey of stuffe in the countrey,
' taking in courte, at mde tymes, one payn, one messe grosse de kusyn,
'^ one gallon service ; and whan hymself is present in this courte,
** to hare in all yj. persons wayters within the gate. The remanent of
** his serraunts abydyng with his householde at his lyverey in the
^ covntrey, a garde du corps le Roy ; his lyverey and every other with-
** out the King's gates is delyvered all wayes by the assent of the
^ Kinges herberger, and that by his byll ; and within the Kinges gates
** no man shall harborow or assigne but this Chambyrlayn or Ussher, or
** snehe other under hym of the King's chambre havyng theyr power.
** This Chamberlayn besyly to serche and oversee the King's chambres ;
** and the astate made therein to be according, first, for all the array
** longing to his proper royall person, for his proper beddes, for his
" proper boarde at meale tymes, for the diligent doyng in servyng
** tkefeof to his honour and pleasure ; to assigne Kervers, Cupbearers^
** Assewers, Fhisitians, Almoners, Knyghts, or other wurshypfull astate
** far the towell and for the basyn. Squires of the body to be attendaunt.
" The Ussher of the Chambre ever to see and quikly to remedy every
" thing lacking or de&utes, as well in the King's inner chaumbre as in
* the titter chamber, specially in sight towarde straungers of worship,
* if the King kepe astate in his chaumbre. And dayly this Ussher
^ maketh his towell or suntape as dothe a Marchall when the King fs in
'< the halL"
p 2
ccxxviii PREFACE.
Kino's to be of ^; that thou£^h the Lord Chamberlfun is
LAIN, no longer responsible for political affairs, the ap-
pointment always changes with the Administration ;
and that both he and the Great Chamberlain, as
well as the Vice-Chamberlain, are Members of the
Privy Council, which circumstances may be attri-
buted to an adherence to ancient usage, and to a
consideration for the rank which those Officers
hold in the State.
The Editor must now express his gratitude to
the persons by whose assistance all the volumes of
this series of the Proceedings of the Privy Council
have been more or less improved. Amongst those
friends the Viscount Strangford has shewn the
liveliest interest in their completion, and has, on
numerous occasions favoured him with valuable
suggestions. To Mr. Hardy of the Record Office
in the Tower, he is indebted for information re^
specting the nature and history of the Public
Muniments, which he might, in vain, have sought
elsewhere ; and his communications have been
particularly useful respecting the King's Great
Seal. From Mr. Holmes of the British Museum,
he has frequently received considerable biblio-
graphicsil information.
1 By Henry the Eighth's warrant appointing a second Secretary of
State, Precedency was given to the Vice-Chamberlain next after the
Master of the Horse, and immediately before the Secretary of State.
Sec, however, the remarks on the subject, p. cxxv, antea.
PREFACE. CCXXIX
The contents of these volumes have been
copied and collated, and read, with the Editor, by
Mr. John Baker, to whose ability as a transcriber
of Records, and general acquaintance with the
subject, a personal knowledge of nearly ten years
enables him to bear strong and willing testimony.
It is equally proper that the acknowledgment
which was made to the King's Printers in the first
volume should be here repeated, because the work
has been materially benefited by their unremitted
attention to the Editor's wishes.
W March 1837.
CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE
or THK
ARTICLES RELATING TO THE REIGN
or
KING HENRY THE SIXTH.
[From 26th August, 22 Hen. VI. 1443, to the 28th of January,
39 Hen. VI. 1461.]
22HEN.VL 1443-4.
fM AuguBty 22 Ben. VL 1443. — Answers given on the King's behalf to
the demands made by Giles of Brittany and other ambassadors of
the Duke of Brittany, wherein the King expresses his satisfaction
at the arrival of the said Giles, as well on account of his con-
aanguinity as of the virtues and noble bearing which he had displayed
when he was with him in his youth ; and thanks the Duke for the
desire which he expressed that his brother should render him service.
With respect to the claim made by the Duke of Brittany to the
earldom of Richmond, on doing homage for it by proxy, the
King replied, that he had never before heard of' the Duke's pre-
tensions, but that, wishing to render justice to every one, he would
cause the registers and deeds thereof to be examined, and if it should
be found that the Duke possessed a right to the earldom, he would
willingly receive his homage, in accordance with the rights, laws,
customs, and usages of the realm of England. The King thanks
the Duke for his offer to promote peace between France and Eng-
land; wishes him and all other Catholic Princes to be reminded of
the endeavours which had been made by his father and himself to
procure peace ; states that he will be always ready to attend
to any thing which may conduce thereto, and that he willingly
accepts the Duke as a mediator : he beseeches the Duke to inform
him of any overtures which might be made by the adverse party ;
informs him that he had decided upon sending ambassadors to
VOL. VI. [a]
ii CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [22 Hen. VI.
France ; and adds, that if a peace should be concluded, he would use
his endeavours for the Duke to be comprised therein. In reply
to a demand of the ambassadors of Brittany for restitution of
seizures which bad been of the Bretons by the English/ |t is
stated that daily complaints were urged by the latter against the
former ; that many applications had on that account been made to
the late and to the present Duke of Brittany himself, but without
effect ; that it had been advised three years before, and the King
again proposes, that commissioners should be appointed to hear
and determine the complaints on both sides ; and he concludes by
promising to cause proclamation to be made in all his ports forbidding
his subjects to molest the Bretons, and by desiring that similar man-
dates may be issued by the Duke • - ^ P« ^ — 7
^pparenUy between September and December^ 22 Hen. VL 1443. — Answers
given on the King's behalf to certain demands conveyed from the
Duke of Brittany by Giles his brother. In reply to a demand made
by the Duke for the surrender of the earldom of Richmond, the King
states, that, in consequence of the promise which he had lately made
to the Duke*s ambassadors, he had caused the registers and other
muniments relative to the earldom to be Examined, and had thereby
ascertained that it was held by King Edward the Third, who gave it
to his son the Duke of Lancaster, by whom it was subsequently sur-
rendered and came into the hands of Richard the Second ; that it was
afterwards assigned in dower to Anne his Queen, and on her decease^
reverted to the Crown, and was held by King Henry the Fourth. He
promises, however, that if the Duke can shew a clear title to t|ie
earldom, he will render him full justice. With respect to the Duke's
doing homage for the said earldom by proxy, for which purpose |ie
had given power to Giles his brother, it is stated that the King will
render to him all the favour in his power, but that, according to the
laws of England, any one owing homage must render it in person,
and that the King s predecessors, however near might be the con-
sanguinity of the party from whom homage was due, had never
received homage in any other manner. To the Duke s request to
be comprised in any treaty which might be concluded between
England and France, the King replied that he had already given a
promise to that effect, and that it should be kept in remembrance by
himself and his Council * - - - - p. 7 — 9
ProhMy written in 1443. — A memorandum of matters to be submitted
to the King relative to propositions which had been made by the
Council to Giles of Brittany, wherein it is recited, that the said Giles
had, during his infancy and his youth, manifested a desire to serve
the King, and had regarded his honour, weal, and profit ; — that he
had since, in consideration of the great benefits and honours which
the King had conferred upon him, continued in the same disposition,
in proof whereof he was ready, in compliance with the letters sent
1443*3 CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE- iii
to him by the King, and the communications made to him by Lord
Sudely and others, to render service to him, and to obey his com-
mands : — To questions which had been put to him as to what service
he would perform, and how he would employ himself for the King^s
advantage, he replied, that it was not for him to select, but for
the King to command, the service which he should render; that,
saving his honour, he would serve the King in any manner it might
please him to command, provided that such provision were made for
him that he might not be under the necessity of seeking a main-
tenance elsewhere, because, when he had once taken up arms on the
King's behalf, he should be unable to obtain any great advantage
elsewhere :— He answered, to a request which had been made to him
to take an oath to the King containing certain strong obligations, that
it appeared to him to be very strange, considering the good dispo-
sition which he had always shewn towards the King, and that he had
always served him to his utmost, without wages : — he added, that if
the King would confer upon him more property, he should be more
and more obliged to him, and that he intended to serve him more
by deeds than by words : — He observed, that the offers which had
been made to him were too small and trifling, considering that he
would be under the necessity of renouncing every other advantage :
—he acknowledged that the offer was greater than his desert, but
insufficient to maintain his rank with regard to the King's honour and
his own : — The memorandum concludes by stating, that, on account
of the great desire which the said Giles had to see the King in per-
son, he had come to England, and was desirous that the King would
speedily declare his will in the matters aforesaid - p. 9 — 11
AjqKxrendy about Oclober or November^ 22 Hen. VL 1443. — Memoir
delivered to the Council by Giles of Brittany, on behalf of his
brother the Duke of Brittany, wherein it is stated that the Adver-
sary of France had communicated to the Duke, that he had ascer-
tained that the King was about to send the Duke of Suffolk, or
others, to him to treat respecting a peace, and praying the Duke to
be with him at the time of their arrival, for the purpose of assist-
ing therein, which journey the Duke had delayed until he had
notified the same to the King, and ascertained his pleasure, which
the said Giles requested might be signified to him : — he added, that,
notwithstanding the peace which had been concluded between Eng«
land and Brittany, the Duke of Somerset had entered the latter
country with a great number of men-at-arms, and had committed
many cruel and enormous excesses, as if it were a conquered country,
although he and his followers had found all favour, and had been
received as friends ;— >that they had pillaged and destroyed the town
of Laquierche, and, whilst they held it, had made many incursions
into Brittany, to the total destruction of the people thereabout ; —
that before be would depart he had covenanted for the Duke to pay
[a 2]
iy CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE, [22 Hen. VI,
him 20,000 crowns, of which sum 10,000 had been paid, and
he had received a bond for the payment of the remainder before
Christmas next, to which stipulation the Duke had consented for
the sake of avoiding the great excesses which were committed upon
his people, to whom he prays that the King would cause reparation
and restitution to be made .... p. n — 13
2nd December f apparently in the 29nd Hen, VL 1443. — Letter from
the Council to th^ Duke of Brittany, requesting to know the state
of his health ; — informing him that daily complaints were made to
them, that, notwithstanding the peace existing between the two
counties, the Duke*s subjects attacked those of the King, both by
sea and by land, especially such as were occupied in fishing ; and,
when they found few in a vessel, killed some, threw others into the
water, and put the remainder into such horrible and close prison»
that part of them died through the hardships which they had under-
gone, and others, to save their lives and be released from such
torments, put themselves to such excessive ransoms as they or their
friends could never pay, and, when they failed on the days appointed,
were forcibly conducted to the public places and through the
streets^ where they were inhumanly put to death ; and when they, at
the point of death, desired that the sacraments might be adminis-
tered to them, they were denied ; and that burial in holy ground was
refused to those who died ; — that others were so strictly ironed that
their limbs were mortified, treatment which even Saracens had
never shewn to Christians, and that it was thought that many were
kept so closely confined that they could not make their misery
known : — The Council express an opinion that the Duke's subjects
had promised peace for their own advantage only, and to deceive
others, and declare their belief that these enormities were committed
without the Duke*s assent or knowledge, <' for they would be much
to his dishonour if he knew them and did not provide a remedy :" —
They state that they cannot, without prejudice to the King and to
his realm, permit such inhumanity to pass unnoticed, '< for the blood
of the victims cried upon them without ceasing for vengeance :** —
They desire the Duke to signify to them by the bearer. Garter King
of Arms, whether these excesses were committed with his knowledge
or assent, and if not, that he would take measures that they should
cease, and notify to them his answer so speedily, that they might
therewith appease the inhabitants of this realm, or so provide therein
as God should counsel them - - - * P« 19 — 16
\9ih DecenAer^ 22 Hen. VL 1443.— ilftitttfe^ of Council It was sug-
gested that a yearly pension of 1,000 marks should be granted to
Giles of Brittany, who had come to see the King and proffer service
to him, and that^ as the term would not end before Candlemas, he
should have payment in hand for the first quarter, and likewise have,
as a gift from the King, a cup of gold, with a sum of money therein ;
1443-] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. t
and that a cup of silver gilt, worth 20 marks, and a piece of damask,
should be given to Alan Lawe, one of the ambassadors of the Duke
of Brittany. The King decided that Giles of Brittany should have
a cup worth 100 marks, and j£lOO therein, and that the ambassador
• should have a purse containing 100 crowns, and a cloth of damask.
It was also suggested that an answer should be given to the Duke of
Brittany, who had been requested by the King of France to be a
mediator of peace, in accordance with letters which had been pre-
viously sent to him ; and that the complaints made by him against the
Duke of Somerset should be inclosed in a letter to the latter, and
that he should be commanded to make restitution and reformation of
any attempts which he had committed in Brittany against the peace ;
and that these answers should be sent to the Duke of Brittany by his
brother Giles - - - - - - p. 16 — 18
IStk December, 22 Hen. VL l^S.-^lbicL Master Adam Moleyns re-
ported to the Council the King's assent to and thanks for the
suggestions made by them on the preceding day ; and the Ward-
Tober likewise signified the assent of Cardinal Beaufort thereto : —
The Chancellor was directed to grant letters of licence to some
servants of the Cardinal of Luxemburgh to cross the sea, with
300 marks, besides s£200 which they had by the King's gifl
p. 18—19
Ibid, — Warrant signed by the King, authorizing the Treasurer and
Chamberlains of the Exchequer to raise, upon such jewels and
goods of the King as should seem proper, the sum of 2,000 marks,
and to deliver the same to the Earl of Shrewsbury - - p. 23
lith December, 22 Hen. VL lUS.— Ibid. A letter to be sent to the
Duke of Brittany, relative to the peace, in conformity with the
answers which had been given to his ambassadors : — A letter to be
sent to the Duke of Somerset in reference to the complaint made
against him by Giles of Brittany ' - - - - p. 19
nth December, 22 Hen. VL 1443— Letter from the King to the Duke
of Brittany, thanking him for the desire which he had expressed to
exert himself as a mediator for peace between England and France,
reminding him of the endeavours which had been made to obtain
the same by himself and his father, and of the labours and expenses
which they had thereby incurred : — He states his determination to
persevere in the same course, and the pleasure with which he
accepts the Duke's mediation ; requests the Duke to inform him of
any overtures which might be made by the adverse party ; and adds,
that he is about to send ambassadors into France, and that if peace
should be concluded the Duke should be comprised therein in good
and honourable terms - - - - " P« 20^21
Auf.— Letter from the King to the Duke of Somerset, informing him of
the complaints which had been made by the Duke of Brittany of the
infraction of the peace by him (vide letter in October or November^
22 Hen.VL 1443; pp. 12, 13.); of the King's displeasure thereat,.
[a 3]
vi CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOOUE. t22HEN.VL
if such were the case ; and strictly commanding bim to repair and
amend any injuries which had been committed by himself or his
followers in the territories of the Duke or to the prejudice of his
subjects ; and to take precautions for the prevention of the same in
future ..-.,.. p.22— 2S
^Sth January^ 22 Hm. VL 1444. — Warrant to the Treasurer and Cham-
berlains of the Exchequer for the payment of 25 marks to Nicholas
Husey, esquire^ who was going into Brittany with Giles of Brittany
p. 24
\8t Fdmwry^ 22Hen.VL 1444. — Petition to the King from Thomas
Beckington, Bishop of Bath, praying for letters of privy seal to be
directed to the Chamberlain of North Wales, authorizing him to pay,
out of the issues of his office, ;€189) due to the said Bishop for an
embassy to Guienne : — which was granted - * P* ^^ — ^
fUh Februaryy 22 Hen. VI. 14*44. — Petition to the King from the Duke
of Gloucester, constable of Dovor and of the Cinque Ports, praying
for letters of privy seal authorizing the Treasurer and Barons of the
Exchequer to account with him for the expenses which he had
incurred in repairing the church and castle of Dovor - p. 25 — ^27
27^ February, 22 Hen. VI. 1444« — Warrant to the Treasurer and Cham-
berlains of the Exchequer, directing them to pay to the Earl of
Shrewsbury, who had covenanted " to do service of war " in France
and Normandy for half a year, the sum of 2,000 marks, out of jf 10,000.
whereof they had been commanded to make assignment to him
p. 27
9rd March, 22 Hen. VI. 14M.—Minute$ of CounciL The Chancellor
was directed to make letters patent for pledging to Cardinal Beau-
fort two parts of the King's rich collar, as security for 2,000 marks
which he had agreed to lend to the King until the feast of St. Martin
in the winter next ensuing : — Warrants to be made for the payment
of J^IO to Henry of Coningham of Scotland, for service to be doue
by him to the King ; — for the appointment of Roger Falconbridge aar
sheriff of Lincolnshire; and a dedimus patestatem to Sir Thomas
Comberworth to receive his oath - - - p. 28 — ^29
ISth March, 22 Hen.VI. 1444. — Petition to tlie King from the provost
and scholars of the college of Our Lady and St. Nicholas, lately
founded by the King in the university of Cambridge, praying for
letters of privy seal to be directed to the Clerk of the Hanaper,
commanding him to deliver to them all patents and writs concerning
their college, without the payment of any fine or fee :-»which was
granted - - - - - --p. 02
1445.3 CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. vii
23 Hen.VI. 1444-^.
i4A Jcanmaryy 23 JletLVL 1445. — Writ to the Chancellor, commanding
him to issue letters patent, granting licence to Christopher de Poges,
and Austin de la Robbe, merchants of Jena, and Peter de Saint
John, burgess of Bruges in Flanders, to conv6y into and sell in
England two great diamonds, two smaller ones, four great rubies,
four sapphires, and twelve pearls ; and, if not sold, to reconvey them
out of the realm, without payment of any custom or subsidy
p- 30—31
SliiJanuaryj 25Hen.VI.lif^ Petition to the King fVom William
Cleve, clerk of the works, praying that the Treasurer might be'
directed to deliver to him an assignment of ji' 1,000, to enable him
to pay the workmen^ and provide materials for the construction of
a new hall and other offices at Eltham ; the waterbridge, quadrangle,
and gatehouse at Shene; the great chamber for the King; the
■ Queen's lodging ; the Parliament Chamh^, and the Painted Chamber
at Westminster, and the scaffolding in Westminster Abbey, ** for the
estate of the coronation:'* — which was granted - - p. 31 — 32
lU February^ 23 Hen. VL 1445.— iKftitite of a Qmncilf containing the
purport of a speech made by the Duke of Suffolk, excusing himself
from attending an embassy to France. As this speech is in English,
it is unnecessary to abstract it r - - - p. 32 — 35
SfrfiPe^iory, 23 i5r«i.F/- 1445^— Petition to the King from Richard
Jordan, keeper of the cellars in Windsor Castle, at the manor of
East Hampstead, and at Henley on the Heath, praying for a grant of
** a livery of meat and drink," to be taken in the King s household
when the King or his household should be at Windsor Castle, in the
* same manner as the keeper of the place, the keeper of the beds, and
the porter of the outer-gate, take daily, and a cloth gown yearly,
during his life, at the great wardrobe in London - - p. 35
9ih Marchj 23 Hen. VL 1445.— Petition to the King from the Duke of
York, stating that the castle and manor of Crickhowell had, from time
out of mind, been holden of himself and his ancestors as of their
castle and lordship of Blaullveny and Dynas, by knight service and
other services, until Sir John Pauncefoot and his feoffees made diver?
estates and feoffments, reserving to him other service and reversions
of the said castle and manor of Crickhowell, to the disherison of the
-petitioner, and praying for licence to sue in Parliament for restitution
ofhis said inheritance:— which was granted * - p. 86 — 37
144hMarchj 23 H&uVL 1445. — Petition to the King from Sir Andrew
Ogard, stating that he had succeeded to certain lands in Denmark,
^vrhere he was born, and in other places in the King of Denmark's
obeisance, and desiring to know whether it were the King's pleasure
€ot him to enjoy the same and to do the services and duties requited
[a 4]
Tiii CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [23-24. Hxn. VL
therefore after the laws of the countries wherein they were situated :-r-
which was granted - - - - - --p. SB
25M Mayy 23 Hen. VL 1445.— Warrant to the Treasurer and Chamber-
lains of the Exchequer, commanding them to pay to the executors of
the late Lord Fanhope the sum of j^540» for two ouches which had
been purchased from them by the King, and to deliver the said
ouches to John Merston, esquire, keeper of the jewels ; and also to
pay jflOO to the Abbot of St. Albon's for a <* circle of x ouches of
gold, set with great pearle, baleys> and sapphire," which were pledged
to him, and to deliver to the keeper of the jewels a George, which
was bought of Sir William Estfelde - - - p. 39
24 Hen. VI. 1445-6.
14^ Marchy 24* JEkn. VL 1446. — Letter from the King to John Bredon,
a priest of Coventry, who had disseminated opinions prejudicial to
the law of God and of the King, commanding him to leave that city,
and to proceed to the Minister Provincial of his Order or his vicar,
and to be ruled and demeaned according to the King's command
p. 40
i^u/.— Letter from the King to the Minister Provincial of the Friars
Minors in England, commanding him to remove John Bredon,
above-mentioned, to some convent of the Order, at the distance of
forty or fifty miles from Coventry - - - * p* 40-— 41
JbidL — Letter from the King to the mayor, bailifi, and inhabitants of
Coventry, informing them that John Bredon had been commanded to
revoke and renounce the opinions which he had preached to them in
the pulpit in the parish churches of the said city on one or two fes-
tival days after the offering, during the time of high mass, of which
revocation the tenor was contained in a schedule sent to them ; and
if he refused to read the said schedule, or said more or less than was
contained therein, he was to be committed to prison p. 41 — 42
Ibid. — A copy of the schedule alluded to in the preceding letter
p. 48 — 45
20fA Jul^y 24 HetuVI. 1446. — Instructions issued to the commissioners
who were appointed to borrow money in the counties of Norfolk,
Suffolk, Essex, and Herts ;— whereunto is annexed a letter of credence
in their favour --. _ . _ -p* 46 — 49
— - Jfdyt 24 Hen. VL 1446. — Minutes of CaunciL Memoranda of com-
plaints made by the Mayor and Aldermen of London of impositions
committed upon the inhabitants of the city by the wool-packers>
wine-gaugers, and wine-drawers, who farmed their offices to <* men
of litell haveour and valeur ;"— of certain games played at Blanke
Chap^lton ;— of the non-payment of the impositions laid by Parlia-
}^^^ CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. is
meDt on strangers residing in the parish of St. Martin ; — and of the
undue exercise of tlie liberties of the Tower. It was advised, that in
case the treaty for peace should be prorogued from November until
March, a convention should be held on the river between Maunt
and Melant:— Sir Tliomas Stanley to be commanded to convey
Eleanor Cobham to the Isle of Man : — Confirmation to be granted
under the great seal to all persons who had wages, fees, or offices
lor life, by the grant of the Duke of ^*arwick, during the minority of
Anne his daughter and heir: — Wages for three months to be paid to
the Bishop of Chichester and Lord Dudley, who were going on an
embassy to France: — ^^100 to be paid to Sir Richard Wydvile for
his labour and expenses in going twice to Calais - - p. 50—52
1961 Jmfyy 24 Hen. VL 1440^—71^ 50 marks to be paid to Michael de
Paris, the King's secretary, as a reward for remaining in England
since Christmas, and returning home with a message from the King
p. 52
20th Jtdy, 2^jffen.VL 1446.— i^. The Clerk of the Hanaper to be
directed to pay the Bishop of Chichester and Lord Dudley, the am-
bassadors to France. In reply to Scales and Oldehall, messengers
from the Duke of York, the Council stated that it was the King*s
pleasure that he should have 200 spears, with the bows thereto, to
indent at Michaelmas, and to have payment in hand for three months,
after the wages of England, and from month to month for the second
quarter, after the wages of France. Deliberation was held as to the
number of ships to be provided for the King's voyage, and the time
when and the place where they should assemble : — Wages for three
months to be paid to the Bishop of Chichester and Lord Dudley, the
ambassadors to France, and ^20 for their shipping ;^their instruc-
tions were read and passed ; — Garter King of Arms, and a pursuivant,
were appointed to go with them, and were to be paid as before ; —
letters to the King's uncle, and << letters of familiarity" to all the cap-
tains in Normandy, were to be given to the ambassadors: — The
bishops and other ecclesiastics to be treated with to pay their tenths,
and persons were to be appointed to raise money, giving assign-
ments for it upon the second grant in Parliament : — The Earl of Or-
mond was commanded by the Chancellor, in the King's name, under
pain of forfeiture, not to go more than forty miles from London, except
on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, without the King's permission, and to
hold himself in readiness to answer before the King and Council : —
The Sheriffs of London, being questioned, stated that they had not
demanded scutage from the Genoese this year, and that they were
ignorant of the sum due to them for the time during which they had
been sheriffs - - - - " P- 52 — 54
22Hd Jufyy 24 Hen. VL 1446.— AtdL 10 marks to be paid to Michael
de Paris, the King's secretary, who was going to France with the
anobassadors - - * - • -p. 54
« CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE- [26 H«n. VT.
«
25 Hen. VI. 144()-7-
19^ Octcbety 25 ^en. F/. 1446.— Writ to the Keeper of the privy seal^
directing him to issue warrants to John Stanley, esquire, serjeant of
the armoury, commanding him to provide armour and weapons for
John Davy, who had appealed William Catour of London of treason,
and had been appointed by the Constable and Marshal of England
• to do battle with him ; and to Sir John Steward and Sir John Astley,
knights, Edmund Hampden and Thomas Montgomery, esquires,
and Thomas Parker, armourer, to be '< intendant and of counsel ** to
the appellant; and to Sir Thomas Gray, Sir Robert Shotesbroke,
John Lovell and John Sharpe, esquires, and to Harman, armourer^
to be ^' intendant and of counsel " to the defendant - • p. 55
leth Navember^ 25 Hen. VL 1446.— Writ to Philip Treher, fishmonger,
of London, commanding him to be intendant and of counsel to John
Davy the appellant above mentioned • - - p. 56
14^ Decembery 25 Hen. VL 1446.— Writ to Master Hugh Payne and
Jolm Latimer, commanding them to be intendant and of counsel to
William Catour the defendant above mentioned - - p. 57
November or December^ 25 Hen^VL 1446^ — Letter from the King to the
Earl of Ormond, a prisoner in the Tower, who had been accused of
treason by Thomas Fitz-Thomas, prior of Kilmain, and was about to
do battle with the Prior in Smithfield, giving him licence, and
informing him that the Constable of the Tower had been directed
to permit him to reside in some place near Smithfield, ** for his
breathing and more ease against the said day" - - p. 57
Ibid, — Letter from the King to the Duke of Exeter, authorizing him to
• convey the Earl of Ormond to some place near Smithfield, two day*
or any shorter time the Earl might wish, before the day of battle
p. 58
28^ December^ 25 Hen*VL 1446.^ — ^Writ, authorizing the payment of
£20 by way of reward to Philip Treher, fishmonger, for his atten-
dance and labour as well ^' in teaching certain points of arms unto
the Prior of Kilmain, which late appealed the Earl of Ormond of hault
treason, as in teaching and counselling John Davy, which late appealed
one John Catour of treason also" - - - - p. 59
19^ Marchy 25 Hen. VL \Wl ^r-^Minutes of the Council Letters to be
written to the King of Scots relative to the keeping of the truce :^
The constables and others in Wales to be directed to see to the safe*
guard of the fortresses there: — The captain of Berwick to go thither
for the safeguard thereof :— An answer to be given to the soldiers
there " of such things as they ask " in Easter Term next : — Letters to
be sent to Bourdeaux, giving the King's assent to the election of the
Abbot chosen by the convent of the abbey of Saint Croix^ and to the
Pope, requesting him to confirm the same, and to revoke all whieh
1447^.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xi
he had done in favour of any other person : — The Lords of the Coun-
cil, and such others as should seem good to the Chancellor, were to
be directed to assemble at the beginning of next term, and at such
time as the ambassadors of the King's uncle should arrive in Eng*
land: — A safeguard for three years to be granted to the fellowship
of the Hanse Towns : — 10 marks to be given to Collar Pursuivant ;
lOOf. to the pursuivant of the Duke of Orleans ; and 100 crowns to
a mesaenger sent from the King's uncle to the King at Bury :— -
A commission made to certain persons for repoisage of wool at the
staple of Calais to be revoked. These Minutes have the King's
initials at the commencement and end - - - p. 60 — 61
27 Hen. VI. 1448-9.
«
5(M OdobeTf 27 Hen* VL 1448. — Answers given by the King and
Council to certain articles delivered by Garter King of Arms on be«
half of the Duke of Somerset, lieutenant general of France, and
other the King's ambassadors there. As these articles, and the ai\r
swers thereto, are in English, it is unnecessary to abstract them
p. 62—64
ifd Februariff 27 Hen.VL 1449.-* Letter from the King to the Bishop
of Durham, the Earl of Westmoreland, the Lords Clifford, Greystoke,
Dacre, and others, requesting them to remain on the marches of
Scotland to prevent the aggressions of the Scotch, instead of attend*
ing the Parliament which had been summoned to meet at Westminster
on the 12th of that month - - • - - p. 65
18iA Fdmuuy^ 27 Hen, VL 1449.— Petition to the King from William
Strete, a monk of the abbey of Glastonbury, praying for letters of
pardon, he having without the King's licence obtained a papal bull,
authorizing him to remove from the said abbey, and to be resident in
another place of the same Order, or in a ^* harder Order,'* to the
intent the more devoutly to serve and please Almighty God: —
which was granted - - - - - - p. 66
28*& FArwxry^ 27 Hen, VL 1449.— Petition to the King from Dame
Margaret Lyie, late prioress of Rowney in Hertfordshire, and her
sisters, stating that they could have no priest to pray for the King's
health and prosperity, ** but if thei wold have a yonge preste, the
which were not covenable for him, or ellys askyn so moche and grete
salary that it is importable for them to here ;" that friar John Tyvn*
ham, " the which is a good prechour, and is ther goostly fader and of
good conversation," was desirous of doing divine service there ; and
praying that letters of privy seal might be directed to Thomas
RodenorC} doctor and provincial minister, << he to amytte the foresaid
xii CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [27 Hen. VL
frere John Tyvnham his lettre of obedience to be redy and enten-
daunt to your said besechers^ and to the said house of Rowney"
p. 67
17^ March^ 27 HefuVL l^iQ.— Instructions (in English) issue^ to Wil-
liam Pirton, esquircy lieutenant of Guisnes, and Edward Grimston,
esquire, the commissioners who were appointed to treat with the
Duchess of Burgundy respecting commercial intercourse p. 60 — 73
18^ Marchf 27 Hen. VL 1449. — Writ to the Chancellor, commanding
him to issue letters patent for the payment of 500 marks of the
tenths and fifteenths next to be granted by the commons and
clergy to William Cantelowe, who had paid that sum to the Bastard
of Saint Paul as a compensation for << appatisementes/' which had been
taken by the garrison of Crotoy in contravention of the truce between
the King and the Duchess of Burgundy - - - p. 73
11^ June, 27 Hen.VL 1449.— Writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs of Lon-
don, charging them to issue a proclamation forbidding all persons to
molest the subjects of the Duke of Burgundy residing in London and
the suburbs thereof, they having been, by reason of reports which
had been circulated, of the evil intentions of the Duke towards
Calais, <' trowbled, spoyled, and undewly vexed, hurt, and cruelly
entreted dayly, aswel by souldiours going towardes the said towne
for the defence of the same, as other people" - - - p. 74
2nd Jvly^ 27 Hen.VL 1449. — Petition to the King from William bishop
of Coventry and Lichfield, stating, that there were in the county and
city of Chester many adulterers, fornicators, and other misdoers,
whom his officers dare not correct on account of the maintenance
which they had of '^ mighty men** within the said county ; and praying
for power to cite persons residing within the said shire into any other
places of his diocese, in all causes and matters concerning the law of
holy church - - - - - - p. 75
%Oth Jvly^ 27 BenJVL 1449«^ — Instructions issued to John Lord Dudley
and Doctor Thomas Kent, clerk of the Council, the ambassadors
appointed to treat with the Duchess of Burgundy for reformation of
attempts against the truce, and respecting commercial intercourse.
As these instructions are in English it is unnecessary to notice them
more fully - - - - - - P- 76 — 85
18M Augusl^ 27 Hen.VL l449^--0rdinaneei of the King. The Treasurer
and Chamberlains of the Exchequer to receive from the executors of
Cardinal Beaufort such of the King's jewels as he had in pledge for
j£ 2,040, to make an assignment to them of that sum upon the first
part of the half disme granted to the King in the last Convocation, and
to deliver the said jewels to Reynold abbot of Gloucester, and Thomas
Mansell, esquire, in pledge for as great a sum as they would lend there-
on : — Assignments to be made upon the fifteenth and tenth granted in
the last Parliament and Convocation for the payment of ^100 to the
Archbishop of Canterbuty, ^1,000 to the Duke of Suffolk, and £500
l«d-5a] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xiii
to the Lard Privy Seal, which sums they had lent in money, jewels,
and plate, in aid of setting forth the armies under Lord Powis, Lord
Zouche's son, and Sir Robert Veer. This Ordinance is signed with
the Kings " own hand " - « . - p. 86
28 Hen.VI. 1449-50.
I6tk November, 9» Hen.VI. 144.9. — Petition to the King from Lord
Beauchamp, master of the horse, praying that the Treasurer and
Barons of the Exchequer might be directed to account with him as
well for all sums of money received by him since the 15th of Fe-
bruary, as of all horses, saddles, bridles, and other harness bought by
him, of horses presented by the King to different persons, and de-
livered by Lord Beauchamp to the almoner, of horses which died
of the murrain, and of all other expenses relative to his office :
which was granted - , . - d 87
28rt Nacember, 28 Hen. VI. 1449— Warrant for the payment of i24
to the Dean of St. Paul's, who had performed the duty of keeper of
the privy seal during the absence of the Bishop of Chichester on a
treaty with the ambassadors of Scotland, at Durham, at the rate of
2Qe. per diem - - . . _ - d. 89
ak December, 28 Hen. VI. 1449— Warrant for the payment or assign-
ment of ^€1,200 to Richard Duke of York, who, by indenture dated
on the 30th July, ao 27 (1449), was retained as Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, for ten years, at the rate of 4,000 marks for the first, and
2,000 marks for every subsequent year - . - d 89
Uth February, 28 Hen. VL 1450.^Warrant for the payment" of five
marks to John Abery, who had brought tidings from the Duke of
Somerset and the Earl of Shrewsbury . . - p 90
17th Febmary, apparenay in the 2Sth Hen. VI. 1450.— Writ to the
mayors, bailiffs, and inhabitants of Canterbury, Maidstone, Col-
chester, Sandwich, Oxford, Winchelsea, and Sudbury, referring to
letters which had been sent to them, and which had been transmitted
by them to the King, whereby it appeared that attempu were made
to raise assemblies and gatherings of the King's subjects, in defiance
of his proclamations and laws, and commanding them to give no faith
or credence to the said letters, and to suffer no such gatherings or
assemblies to be held amongst them - - . p, 90—92
de& May, 28 Hen. VL 145a— Warrant for the payment of 20». to
Thomas Kent, doctor of laws, " clerk of our council " in oure am-
bassiate, as well to oure towne of Calais for to mete with th ambas-
satours of tiie Duk of Borgoigne for reparation of attemptats. as
unto tharchbisshop of Cologne for suche matiers as we have charged
him with in yat partie " - . . , - p. 92
17lA May, 28 Hen. VL 1450.— Letter from the King to Master Andrew
xiT CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [28 H«k. VI.
Holes, keeper of the privy geal, commanding him to issue a warrant
for the payment, to Richard duke of York, of 4,700 marks, due to
him as Lieutenant of Ireland, and jf 6,000, being the arrear of an
annuity payable to him in the ports of London and Hull and at the
Exchequer -- - - - - -p. 92
2SrdJuney 28 Hen. VI. 1450.— Warrant for the payment of je46 IS«.
to Thomas Vaughan, esquire, master of the ordnance, for " certain
stuff of ordnance," a list of which is annexed, purveyed by him, and
brought with the King into the field on the 20th of June - p. 94
SO^ Jkim, 28 Hen. VL 1450.— Warrant for the payment of jf 100 for
victualling the Tower, and for other stuff necessary for the safeguard
thereof - - - - - - -p. 95
\ti Jvhfy 2^6 Htn^VL 1450. — Letters patent appointing Sir Thomas
Stanley and Sir Thomas Harrington commissioners of array in the
counties of Chester and Lancaster - - - - - p. 95
12^ «7u/y, 28 ^€91. VL 1450.— Letters patent whereby the Treasurer
of England, Sir Thomas Tyrell, Richard Waller, esquire, and the
Chamberlains of the Exchequer, were empowered to seize, to the
King's use, all goods, chattels, jewels, and sums of money which he
who called himself John Mortimer, and his adherents in the county of
Kent, took and carried away with them ; and to expend such portion
thereof as to them should seem fit, for the advantage of the King
and of his realm, especially in taking the said John Mortimer and
his adherents - - - - - - --p. 96
14^ Jvly^ 28 Hen. VL 145a— Writ to the Treasurer and Chamberlains
of the Exchequer, commanding them to use their utmost exertions
in seizing ** alle suche goodes as that fals traytour oon callyng him
self John Mortymer late brought in to cure towne of Rochester, or
that in any wyse belonged unto him, be it gold, silver in coyne or
plate, clothes of gold, arras, or any other good what ever it be,** and
to employ the same for the advantage of the King and of his realm
p. 97
nth Juli/y 28 Hen. VL 145a— Warrant for the payment of if 10 ta
Master Andrew Hooles, keeper of the privy seal, for his expenses
incurred in travelling into Sussex and Kent, for the purpose of
speaking ** with him that called himself Capitain of Kent;" and jf 10
for the conveyance of certain letters of credence from the Council
to the King - - - - - -p. 97
i8th Jufyf 28 Hen. VL 1450^— Warrant for the payment of the ex-
penses of the commissioners who went to Rochester *' to arreste cer-
tain goodes yat were late in ye governaunce of oon John Mortimer*
traitoure, callyng himself Capitaigne of Kent *' - - - p. 98
Und. — Warrant for the delivery of six horses, ** yat late that traitour,
calling him capitaigne of Kent, hadde," to Master Andrew Holes,
keeper of the privy seal, who was about to make a journey in the
King's service - - - - ---p. 99
1450-51.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xr
24A August 28 Hen.VL 1450w— Warrant for the payment of 500 marks
to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other executors of Lord
Fanhope,for a collar called ^ Ikylford Collar/' which had been pledged
to them for that sum, and which had, at the King*s request, been
surrendered for the Queen s coronation - - - p. 99
25M Augusty 28 Hen. VI. 1450.— Warrant for the payment of 100«. to
Artois King of Arms of the Duchess of Burgundy, who had brought
letters from her to the King - - - * P' ^^
MeL — Warrant to the Keeper of the great wardrobe for the delivery of
twenty yards of fine black cloth to Gerard Boot, a monk of the Char^
terhouse, the confessor of the Queen of Scotland, who had, as he
asserted, been robbed by the King's subjects on his voyage from
Scotland to Flanders - - - - -p. 100
JlfkL — Warrant for the delivery of jf 40 out ^ of the goodes that that
fals traitour John Cade, calling him Mortymer,'* brought to Rochester,
to the bailifis of that city, for the construction of the gate thereof
next towards Canterbury * • - - - P* 101
29 Hen. VI. 1450-1.
Sfd October, 29 ffefi. VL 1450^— Warrant for the payment of jf40 to
Edmund Duke of Somerset, who took in the county of Kent ^ a risarft
ayenst oure pees, oon John Smyth, that called himself Capitaigne of
Kent," and 20 marks daily to the said Duke, who was going again
into Kent, *^ to see and ordeigne that good rest and pees be among
oore people there, and to chastise ther the contrarie labourers
therof ... - - . p. 101
I2ih October, 29 fferuVL 1450.— Writ to the Treasurer and Barons of
the Exchequer, commanding them to stay the proceedings which
they had adopted against William de la Barre, administrator of the
goods and chattels of Louis late administrator of the Bishoprick of
Ely, for the recovery of a horse with a saddle and bridle, a hat, a cloaks
a ring, a cup, a lavour, and a mute of hounds, which belonged to the
said Louis, ** by right and custume of olde tyme hadde and used
perteignyng," to the King, the said William having long since paid
the same - - - - - - p, 102
2Mt December, 29 HefuVL 1450.— Writ to the Keeper of the privy
seal, stating that Hugh Forde, a servant of Lord Scales, had been
committed to prison during the sitting of Parliament, and that the
Kbg, being willing that the privileges of Parliament should be main-
tained, commanded him to issue a warrant to the Constable and
Marshal of England for the release of the said Forde - p* lOS
25th January, 29Htn. VL 1451.— Writ to the Treasurer and Barons of
the Exchequer, commanding them not to surcease for making apy
xvi CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [29-SOHeh.VL
process, or to abstain from proceeding to judgment, in consequence
of any letters or warrant which had been or might afterwards be
directed to them by the King, except such only as passed by the
advice of the Council - - - - - P- ^04s
€th Mayy 29 Hm. VL 145L— Warrant for the payment of lOOs. to
Clarenceaux King of Arms, who was going into Scotland with letters
of safe conduct for the Scotch ambassadors, who were to meet the
King's commissioners at Newcastle, for the reparation of attempts
against the truce - - - - - - p IM
^Oih May^ 29 Hen.VL 1451. — An Indenture, containing a list of jewels
which were delivered by John Powtrell to John Wynn, citizen and
jeweller of London, by command of the Lords of the Council
p. 105—107
28^ June^ 29Hen.VL 1451.— Petition to the King from Thomas
Canynges and William Hulyn, late Sheriffs of London, praying that
allowance might be made to them in their account of the expenses
which they had incurred in sending the quarters of various persons
whose names are mentioned, one of whom was Mortimer the *^ Cap-
tain of Kent ** who had been executed for treason, to Chichester,
Rochester, Colchester, Canterbury, Norwich, Stamford, Qoventry,
Newbury, Winchester, Blackheath, Norwich, Salisbury, and Glou-
cester, and in affixing the heads of several traitors on London
Bridge - p- 107—109
Sih July^ 29 Hen. VL 1451. — Warrant for the payment of lOOf. to
Snowden Herald who had brought letters from the King of Scotland
p. 109
24^4 July^ 29 Hen. VL 145l« — ^Warrant for the delivery of a bond of
William de Harcourt earl of Tankervill for 6,000 crowns, being
a portion of the security for the ransom of the Duke of Orleans, to
Sir Henry Redford, a prisoner in France, to enable him to pay
his ransom - - - - • « p. 109
^!nd Auguii^ 29 Hen. VL. 1451. — ^Writ to the Treasurer and Chamber-
lains of the Exchequer, commanding them to send various muni*
ments therein mentioned, relating to truces with Burgundy and to the
affairs of France, to the King and his Council at Canterbury p. 110
XOihAuffusti 29 Hen. VL 1451.— Warrant for the payment to John Lord
Beauchamp of ^39, which he had advanced for the payment of the
shipping employed in conveying men-at-arms and archers to Calais.
Annexed is a list of the vessels, with the number of saOors in
each ..-..-. p. 112
SO Hen- VL 1451-2.
15th Febrtutry^ 30 Hen. VL. 1452. — Warrant to the Keeper of the privy
seal, commanding him to issue letters directing the Treasurer and
X])hamberlains of the Exchequer to grant a discharge to J(Aii
1452.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xvii
Poutrell of certain jewels, which, by virtue of letters patent dated on
the 15th of May, a** 29, had been delivered by him to John Wynne,
citizen and jeweller of London, for the King's use, which jewels the
said John Poutrell had received as part of the security for the
repayment of £600^ which he had lent to the King on the
3rd of February, ao 28 . - - - - p. 114 — 116
17iA Fdmuxry, MHm.VL 1452.— Letter from the King to Lord Cob-
ham, who had neglected to attend a Council whereto he had been
summoned, and peremptorily commanding him, under pain of the
King's displeasure, to appear before him forthwith, and to perform
such service as befitted a true liegeman - - - p. 116
8^ Mardi, 80 Hen. VL 1452. — Warrant for granting licence to the
mayor and burgesses of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to export *< shor-
ling lamb's skins and calves skins " grown within the counties of
Northumberland, Westmoreland, and Cumberland, and the bishop-
rick of Durham, to Bruges and Middleburgh, for three years
p. 117— 119
14^ Marchy 30 Hen. VL 1452.— Letter from the King to Lord Clifford,
thanking him for his services; informing him that it was the intention
of the Adversary of France to besiege Calais and other places in the
marches there, and afterwards to invade England ; for the prevention
of which the King was about to raise an army, had appointed the
Earl of Shrewsbury to have the command thereof upon the sea,
and had ordered the Grace de Dieu and other ships lying in the
Thames and at Sandwich and Winchilsea to be in readiness ;
requesting him to use his utmost endeavours to induce owners
of ships, knights, esquires, and others, to render service herein,
and to conduct, with all possible speed, such ships and men as should
be arrested, to the Downs of Sandwich or to the Camber
p. 119— 122
llnd4 — Copy of letters of credence in favour of Lord Clifford, alluded
to in the preceding letter - - - - - p. 122
93Md March, 30 Hen.VI. 1452.— Letter from the King to Lord Clifford,
enclosing instructions for the performance of the duties entrusted to
him by letter dated on the 14th of the same month, and urging the
speedy execution thereof - - - - - p. 123
IbUL — Instructions alluded to in the preceding letter - - p. 124
4M Matfy $0 Hen. VI. 1452.— Letter from the King to Lord Poynings
warden of the East Marches towards Scotland, Sir Robert Ogle,
lieutenant of Tyndale, John Heron of Ford, lieutenant of Redesdale,
and Ralph Grey, lieutenant of Roxburgh, referring to violations o
the truce by the followers of the Earl of Douglas, and of reprisals
which had been made by the English, and commanding them to
caose the truce to be strictly observed - - - p. 125
JbkL — Letter from the King to Lord Po3mings, informing him that his
letters to the Chancellor, notifying to him the violation of the truce
VOL. VI. [b]
xviii CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [90-Sl Hek.VI.
with Scotland, had been submitted to the Council, and that instruc-
tions had been issued to the persons therein named - p. 126
^latJUatf, 30 Hen. VL 1452. — Petition to the King from Robert Poyn-
ings, praying that writs of supersedeas might be directed to the
escheators of Sussex and Kent, who, by virtue of an exigend of
treason which had been awarded against him before the justices of
oyer and terminer in the county of Kent, whilst he was a prisoner
in the Tower, had seized all his goods and chattels : — ^which was
granted " - - - - - •?• ^^
31 Hen.VL 1452-S.
IIM Ma^f 31 H&uVL 1453. — Memorandum, stating that on this day,
in a Court holden at Whitehall by the lieutenant of the Constable of
England, John Lyalton appealed Robert Norreys of high treason ;
that the 25th of the same month was appointed for them to do battle
in Smithfield; that they should fight with glaive, short sword,
dagger, and axe, instead of long sword; that council, who are
named, were assigned to them ; that it was therefore necessary
that the sherifis of London should be directed to gravel and sand
the place, to erect a scaffold for the King, and to make lists and
barriers for the battle ; and that the Serjeant of the King's armoury
should be commanded to provide armour and weapons for the com-
batants - - - - - - p. 129
16^i Mayy apparently SUt Hen. VL 1453. — Letter from the King to Sir
Thomas Stanley and Sir Thomas Harington, informing them that
the Duke of Exeter, Lord Egremont, and others, had made great
assemblies and gatherings of the people, that the Duke of York
had been appointed to suppress the same, and commanding them to
assist him therein - - - - - -p. 130
Between thellthand 25th May, 31 Hen. VL 1453.^Petition to the King
from John Lyalton, who had appealed Robert Norreys of treason,
praying that letters of privy seal might be issued for carrying into
effect the ordinances which had been made in the Court of the
Constable of England :— ( Vide the memorandum of the 11th May)
p. 132
On or about 25rd May, 31 Hen. VL U5S.^Minutes efihe CaunciL The
sherifis of London to be directed to make a scaffold for the King,
and lists and barriers, and to gravel and sand the ground in Smiths
field ; armour and weapons to be delivered by the Serjeant of the
King's arms to John Lyalton, the appellant; and Tliomas Bee,
painter, to be one of his council - - - p. 13S
2,3rd May, 31 Hen. VL 1453 — Letter from the King to Sir John Asteley,
U5$.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xix
knight, and Thomas Montgomery, esquire, appointing them to be of
council to John Lyalton, the appellant - - - p. 134
SUh May^ 31 Hen. VL 1453. — Letter of similar import from the King to
Thomas Bee, painter - - - - p. 134
Md, — Letter from the King to Jenkyn Stanley, serjeant of arms,
conmianding him to deliver arms and weapons to the appellant
p. 135
iM.— Writ to the Sheri& of London, commanding them to prepare
barriers and lists in West Smithfield, to have the same well gravelled
and sanded, and also to erect a scaffold - - p. 135.
29A Mayy 31 Heiu VL 1453. — Petition to the King from John Lyalton,
the appellant, praying for a grant of money to enable him to pur-
chase necessaries for the ensuing battle, and that Clampard the
smith might be commanded to deliver weapons to him : — Five marks
were granted to him - - - - ~ P* ^^6
22iNf Jtfft«, 31 He$i. VL 1453.— Petition to the King from Robert
Norreys, the defendant, to the same effect (mutatis mutandis) as that
from Lyalton, the appellant, dated between the 11th and 25th of
May - - - - - p. 137
Ibid, — ^Letter from the King to Sir Hugh John and others, appointing
them to be of council to Robert Norreys, the defendant - p. 138
Ibid* — Memorandum containing the names of those who were ap-
pointed to be of council to the appellant and defendant in the above*
mentioned appeal - - - - - p. 139
^^rdJuney SI Hen. VL 1453. — Petition to the King from John Lyalton,
the appellant, praying for a tent or pavilion for the day of battle,
and that Clampard the smith might be commanded to deliver to him
such weapons as were necessary - - - p. 139
7<ft June, 31 Hen.VL 1453. — Letter from the King to Lord Egremont,
peremptorily commanding him to appear before the Council with all
haste possible - - - - p. 140
^6ih June, 31 Hen. VI. 1453. — Letter to the same, rebuking him for his
non-compliance with the various mandates which he had received to
appear before the Council, and commanding him to attend them in all
baste, and in the meantime to keep the peace towards all the King's
subjects - - - - - p. 141
Ibid* — ^Letter from the King to Sir John Neville, referring to disputes
between him and Lord Egremont, which had caused great trouble
and vexation to the Hang's country and subjects, commanding him
to appear before the Council, and in the meantime to keep the
peace - - - - - -p. 141
11^ Jylyy 31 Hen.VL 1453.— Letter from the King to Lord Grey of
Kugemont, commanding him to appear before the Council - p. 142
90ih Jvlyy 31 Hen. VL 1453. — Letter from the King to some person
whose name is illegible, commanding him either to send to the
Treasurer, by the bearer, the 200 marks which he had promised to
[b2]
XX CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [SI Hen. VI.
lend for the defence of Guienne, or to appear before the Council in
all possible haste - - - - " P- ^^3
^Ist Jidi/, 31 Hen. VL 1453. — Letter from the King to Francis Foscari
Duke of Venice, regretting that any dispute should have arisen
between the Duke and the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John
of Jerusalem at Rhodes, stating, that as he (the King) and his pro-
genitors were amongst the chief founders of the Order, it behoved
him to provide for their peace, and urging the Duke to dismiss from
his mind all animosity - - - - - p. 144 — 146
"252A Julyy 31 Bien. VL 1453.— Letter from the King to Lord Faucon-
berg, desiring him to certify the Chancellor of aiv agreement which
had been made between himself and the Earl of Salisbury, whereby
it was stipulated that the former should take two thirds of the cus-
toms in the port of Newcastle, until he had received 1,000 marks,
which had been assigned to him in part payment of j£l,000
yearly for the keeping of Roxburgh Castle, and that the Earl
should have the other third part - - - * P* 1^
"^Ith Julyy 31 Hen. VL 1453.— Letter from the King to the Earl of
Salisbury, commanding him to use his utmost endeavours to piit down
such " great assemblies and riotous gatherings of people*' as had
been made in the shire wherein he dwelt by his son Sir John
Neville and others, and also to be obedient to Sir William Lucy and
the other commissioners who were sent thither by the King : — A
similar letter was addressed to the Earl of Northumberland, relative
to his son Lord Egremont - - • - p. 147
'Ibid, — Letter from the King to Lord Egremont and Sir John Neville,
son of the Earl of Salisbury, commanding them to keep the peace,
and to obey Sir William Lucy and the other commissioners who
were appointed for that purpose - - - p. 148
Jbid, — A similar letter (mutatis mutandis) to Sir John Conyers, Sir James
Pickering, and others - - - - - p. 140
Jbid, — Another letter on the same sul)ject, but to whom directed does
not appear - - - - - - P- 150
'&h August^ 31 Hen. VL 1453. — Letter from the King to the mayors
and customers of Dartmouth, Plymouth, and Fowey, requesting them
to urge the owners and masters of ships to be ready with their ves-
sels by the feast of St. Bartholomew at the latest to convey the
army which was about to be sent into Guicnne : — Similar letters were
addressed to the mayors and customers of Lynne and Orwell, who
were also to charge the owners and masters of vessels bound from
thosp ports to Bourdeaux to assemble at Sandwich or Southampton
by the said feast - - - - - ~ P* 151
Ith August, 31 Hen. VL 1453. — ^Letter from the King to the Mayor of
London, directing him to convene the merchants and citizens, to
whom a quantity of alum, to the amount of ^8,000, which had been
purchased from divers merchants of Jena, had been sold by the
J453-4.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xxi
King, with licence to resell the same with an increase of 2f. on the
pound, and to induce them to lend the said increase to the King, for
the purpose of raising an army for the defence of Guiennci they
receiving assignments for the same upon the fifteenth, payable at
Midsummer following - - - * P* 1^^ — 1«^
1(M Auguaiy 31 Hau VL 1453.— Letter from the King to Sir Ralph
Percy, Richard Percy, Sir John Penyngton, and others, commanding
them to keep the peace and to obey Sir William Lucy and the other
commissioners appointed for that purpose - ' P* ^^^
nth Attgusiy 31 Hen. VL 1453.— Letter from the King to the Mayors
and Sheri£& of Bristol and Hull, stating that the army which had
been raised for the defence of Guienne would shortly be in readi-
ness ; that the King's adversaries were endeavouring to assemble a
great navy in the river Gironde to prevent the passage of the said
army, and directing them to make proclamation commanding the
masters and mariners and others who were disposed to proceed to
said duchy to assemble at Falmouth with their ships on the 27th
of the present month, for the purpose of being protected by the
army on their voyage - - - - * P« 1^^
14<& Avgtut^ 31 Hen. VL 1453. — Letter from the King to the Mayor
of Southampton and others, authorizing them to weigh and i«ell, for
the equipment of the army to Guienne, all such pieces of tin as had
been seized in the said town by the King's command - p. 156t
32 Hen. VI. 1453-4.
8<ft Odober, apparenUy in S2nd Hen. VL. 1453.— Letter from the King-
to the Earl of Westmoreland and the Bishop of Durham, thanking
them for their diligence in repressing such unlawful gatherings as
had been made in the country wherein they dwelt, and praying for a
continuance of their exertions - - - - p. 15$
Lhid.—A similar letter to the Archbishop of York - - p. 159
J^.— Letter from the King to the Earls of Salisbury and Northum-
berland, reminding them that as Commissioners of the Peace in the
country wherein they dwelt, and as Lords of the Council, it behoved
them to keep the peace and the King's laws, notwithstanding which,
and in defiance of the King's letters of privy seal, they had taken upon
them ^ to make the greatest assembly of our liegemen, and thereto
have appointed time and place, that ever was made in this our
land at any time that man can think;'* threatening that in case any
thing should be done by them or by others whereby any of the
King's Jieges should perish, they should be <* so chastised that both ye
and they and all others our subjects shall have matter and cause to
eschew to attempt any Xhing like hereafter *' - 159— 161
[bS]
xxii CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [32Hbn.VL
Sth October, apparently in S2nd Hen, VL 1453.— Letter from the King to
Lord Egremont, reminding him that he had not long ago been raised
to the rank of a baron, not for any great service that he had done,
but for the '' trust and trowing " which the King had of the good
service which he should do in time to come, especially in keeping the
peace ; notwithstanding which, and in defiance of the King's letters
of the 27th of July, commanding him to put down such assemblies and
gatherings of people as he had made and arrayed against the peace, he
had not only failed so to do, but had multiplied gatherings of people
ready to go to the field as it were in time of war, and strictly charging
him to discharge such people as he had assembled, to ** surcease of
such novelries*' as he had begun, and to keep the peace p. 161 — 163
24IA October, 32 Hen. VL 1453r~Letter from the King to the Duke of
York, desiring him to give credence to such things as should be
declared to him on the King's behalf by Sir Thomas Tyrell, and
transmitting to him letters of summons to a Qreat Council. An-
nexed is a copy of the instructions given to Tyrell, who was to
declare to the Duke, that one of the causes which had induced the
King to assemble a Great Council was " to set rest and union
betwixt the lords of this lande," and that, as it was supposed that a
variance existed between him and some others of the lords, the
King desired his attendance - - - * P- 163
6A December, 32 Hen, VL 1453. — Minutes of the Council, It was agreed
that 500 sacks of the King's wool shpuld be shipped and conveyed
to such parts '' of the Kings amite" as should seem most expedient,
for the purpose of being sold to raise money for the expenses of the
King's household - * - - -p. 164
13/A March^ 32 Hen, VL, 1454 — .Letter from the King to Francis Foscari
Duke of Venice, requesting permission for certain knights of the Order
of St. John of Jerusalem, who were about to proceed from England
to reinforce the Grand Master of Rhodes against the Turks, who had
seized Constantinople, to pass through the Duke's territories p. 165
15^ Marcky 32 Hen. VL 1454. — Minute of the CouneiL It was agreed
in the Council Chamber at Westminster, during the sitting of Parlia-
ment, that a commission should be issued to John Arundell, John
Faceby, and William Hatclyff, physicians, and to Robert Wareyn
and John Marchall, surgeons, empowering them to administer to the
King such meditines and medicinal remedies, in such manner as
could be best devised, and according to the directions of the most
learned physicians who had written or should afterwards write on
the subject ----- • P* 166
30^ March and ist April, 32 Hen, VL, 1454.— i&icL It was agreed that
the Bishop of Ely should be recommended to the Pope for pro-
motion to the archbishoprick of Canterbury, vacant by the death
of John Kemp, the late archbishop; that Master William Gray
should be recommended to the see of Ely ;. and that Master George
1454.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xxiii
Neville^ son of the Earl of Salisbury, chancellor of England, in con-
sideration of his blood, yirtuci and cunning, should also be recom-
mended for promotion to the next vacant bishoprick - p. 168
Isi Aprils S2 Ben. VL 1454. — ^Writ of privy seal, countersigned by the
Council, commanding the Chancellor to issue letters patent granting
to Master Thomas Mannyng, one of the King's chaplains, the deanery
of the chapel of St. George, within the castle of Windsor p. 169
M Aprily 32 Hm. VI. 1^4^— Minute of the QmnciL John Goldewell
and Walter Hertford,monks of Christ's Church, Canterbury, presented
to the Council a petition from the prior and chapter of that house,
praying for licence to elect an archbishop in the room of John
Kemp, lately deceased : — which was granted - - p. 1 7
imjpril^ 32 Hen.VL 1454.— Petition to the King from Thomas Colt
one of the chamberlains of the Exchequer, praying for his livery
of clothing and fur for the feast of Christmas last past, and livery
as well for summer as winter, so long as he should occupy the said
office : — which was granted - - - -p. 171
I5tk Aprily 32 Hen. VL 1454. — MintOe of the QmnciL A dispute relative
to the lieutenancy of Ireland having been decided, " so that it was
no longer to be doubted who ought to be lieutenant there," it
was agreed that an Order of Council which had been made on the
6th of February preceding, forbidding the collectors of the fifteenth
and tenth, and of the half fifteenth and tenth, granted in the Par-
liament at Reading, yet enduring, to pay any sums or tallies assigned
for Ireland to any one but the Treasurer of England, should be
rescinded, and that the said tallies should be paid according to their
purport --- - -- ---p. 172
l&hAprily 32 Hen. VL 1454.— Letter from the King to the Duke of York
and several other peers, summoning them to attend a Council at West-
minster on the 6th of May next coming, for the purpose of maki^ig
provision << as well for the restful rule of this our realm inward
as for defence thereof outward, and specially for the safegard of
our town of Calais and the marches there " - - p. 174
17^ ^^prily 32 Hen. VI. 1454. — Copy of the letters'sent by order of the
Council to various prelates, ecclesiastics, and peers, a list of whom
is annexed, urging them to lend money or to raise men for the defence
of Calais p. 175—177
IM Jfoy, S2Hen. VI. 1454.— Letter from the King to the Earl of North-
umberland, commanding him to appear before the Council at West-
minster on the 12th of the following month, when provision was to be
made for the prevention of such disturbances as had previously
occurred on account of the differences between the Earl of Salisbury
and Lord Egremont, the Earl of Northumberland's son - p. 178
Ibid. — Letter from the King to Lord Roos, commanding him to appear
before the Council at Westminster on the 16th of the present month
p. 179
[b4]
xxiv CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE- [S2Heh.VL
10^ May, 32 Hen. VL 1454*. — Letter, intended to have been sent from
the King to Lord Poynings and Sir Ralph Percy, commanding them
to appear before the Council at Westminster on the 2nd of the
following month, but which was not forwarded - - p. 179
IbicL — Letters from the King to the Sheriffs of Derby and Lancashire,
directing them to deliver letters of privy seal to Sir Nicholas Lang-
ford and Walter Blount, Thomas Pilkington, and Piers Legh,
esquires, commanding them to appear before the Council imme-
diately after the sight thereof - - - - p. 180
nth May, S2 Hen.VI. l4t54f.^LetteT from the King to the Duke of
Exeter, commanding him to appear before the Council at West-
minster on Thursday next ensuing - - - p. 180
24A May, 32 Hen. VI. 1454.— Letter from the King to the Treasurer and
Barons of the Exchequer, notifying to them the several fines which
had been imposed by the Lords of the Council on those bishops, earls,
abbots, and others (who are named), who on account of sickness
had been unable to attend the Parliament which began at Reading
and ended at Westminster, it having been therein provided that
such lords as did not attend the said Parliament, from the 14th of
February last past until the last day of the same month, should pay
unto the King a certain sum ; but that those who were prevented
by illness should pay such a fine as should be thought reasonable to
the Lords of the Council - - - - p. 181— 183
9,7th May, 32 Hen. VL 1454.— Petition to the Council from John Duke
of Norfolk, complaining of the conduct of Thomas Sharnburn,
sheriff of Suffolk, relative to the election for that county, which was
held at Ipswich on Monday after the feast of St. Valentine (February
18th), he having made a return to the effect that he dared not hold
the county court on account of the menaces of the servants and
tenants of the said Duke, such not being the fact ; and praying
that the Justices of the Common Pleas might be directed to permit
the said servants and tenants to appear and answer by attorney : —
which was granted - - - - -p. 183
29<A May, apparently in the S2nd Hen. VI. 1454. — Letter from the King
to the lords. spiritual and temporal, summoning them to attend a
Great Council to be held at Westminster on the 25th of the follow-
ing month, for the purpose of devising measures for the defence of
the realm, and of resisting the King's enemies, who had set forth a
great army upon the sea, and '* daily busy them to pull from us
our towne of Calais " . - • - p. 184 — 187
Ibid.'-^Tit to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, command-
ing them not to exact from Lord Say a fine of £¥), which had been
erroneously imposed upon him for non-attendance in the Parliament
which began at Westminster and ended at Reading, he having been
present therein - - - - - - p. 187
31*< May, 32 Hen. VL 1454.— Jftniifc of the CaunciL It was agreed.
1454.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xxr
that notwithstanding that the Chancellor of that portion of the
duchy of Lancaster which was put in feoffment had been previously
commanded to receive no letter of warrant for any thing to be sped
by him, unless under the signet of the Eagle, the privy seal should
from henceforth be a sufficient warrant to him • - p. 188
Auigned to the Srd Juney 32 Hen. VL 1454.— Letter from the King to
the Duke of Exeter, expressing great displeasure at his conduct,
some particulars of which are enumerated, commanding him to
refrain from the commission of any thing which might lead to a
breach of the peace or of the laws, and to appear before the
Council at Westminster on the 25th of the month - p. 189
Ibid, — ^Letters of similar import were also addressed to Lord Egremont,
Richard Percy, Sir Nicholas Longford, and Thomas Pilkington and
Walter Blount, esquires - - - - P* 190 — 192
5A Juney apparently in the $2nd Hen, VL 1454. — Letter from the King
to the Abbot of Hulme, imforming him that Lord Egremont and
others of like disposition made great assemblies of the King's liege
people, and issued proclamations to stir them to rebellion and
breaking of the laws, and forbidding the abbot, his servants or
tenants, to favor, assist, comfort, or help him, *< nor none of his or
of his opinion whatever they be'* - - - p. 19S
IbkL — A similar letter to Lord Clifford, who was moreover com-
manded to render all the assistance in his power to the Duke of
York, who by the advice of the Council had been sent to suppress
the aforesaid tumults - - - - p. 194
/SidL— Letter from the King to Walter Durdant of Buckinghamshire,
commanding him, under a penalty of £200, to appear before the
Council at Westminster on the morrow of the feast of St. John the
Baptist next ensuing - - - - - p. 195
S2Ben. VL 1454. — Letter from the King to the mayors, aldermen,
and inhabitants of York and HuHi thanking them for their good
zeal and love, and for tlieir << wyse, discrete, sadde, and manly
beryng oute of their trouthe in withstandyng and puttyng aside
the wylfulnesse" of the Duke of Exeter, Lord Egremont, and
Richard Percy, and also for the reception which they had given to
the Duke of York - - - - p. 195 197
SihJulyy S2 Hen, F/. 1454.— Petition to the King and Council from
Piers de Merlanes and his fellowship of Gascony, stating that by
reason of the loss of the city of Bourdeaux and of the countrj'^ there-
abouts they had come into England to proffer their service for the
recovery thereof, and to beseech that some consideration might be had
to the services which they rendered before the Earl of Shrewsbury
entered that city : — it was agreed that they should have J£lO p. 197.
lOiA July, 32 Him. VL 1454.— Petition to the King from Ralph Lord
Cromwell praying that Robert Colynson, a priest, who had falsely
slandered him, might be detained in prison until he had made satis-
xxvi CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [32 Hen.VL
faction to the petitioner for the damages which he had thereby suf-
fered, and until he had made fine and ransom to the King for the
said offence:— which was granted • .» - - p. 198
ntkJufyy S2 Hen.VL 1454. — Copy of the indenture, signed by the
Council, between the King and the Duke of York, as Captain of
Calais and of the Tower of Risbank, for seven years - p. 199 — 206
18lA Jtdt/, 32 Hen. VL 1454.— ilfmt<fe of the CouneU. Upon the ques-
tion, whether the Duke of Somerset, who had been committed to
prison on suspicion of treason, should be released on bail or not,
the Duke of York proposed that the opinion of the judges should be
had, without which he would never consent to his release ; and he
desired that this declaration might be entered on record, which was
accordingly done - - - - - - p. 206
JfUJ.— Writ to the Chancellor, commanding him to make letters of
exemplification of the preceding declaration - - * P- ^^
9Mi JuJy, 32 Hen. VL 1454 Petition to the King from William Ne-
ville Lord Fauconberg, praying for licence to surrender Edmund
Arblaster, a prisoner, for whom he had become surety to one
Blauncheford ; the said Edmund not having paid his ransom : — which
was granted - - - - - * P* 208
23rcf July, 32 Hen. VL U5^.— Proceeding of the Council. It was agreed
that the Duke of York, Protector of England, should have authority
to grant the King's livery of colours to eighty gentlemen, after his
discretion ; << they to be a feed with no man but the King without
his special licence;*' the steward, treasurer, comptroller, cofferer,
chief clerk, and the avener to be directed to put in execution *' the
appointments made and ordained for the King's stable, as well in
disposing of the horses as persons attending upon the said stable :*'—»
annexed is a copy of *' the appointement made by the King by the
advice of his Council for the office of the avery, and for his stable"
p. 209—214
24/A July, 32 Hen. VL. 1454. — Letter addressed to the spiritual and
temporal peers, summoning them to attend a Great Council at West-
minster on the 21st of October following - - p. 214 — 216
Llnd, — Letters written by order of the Council to the Bishop of
St. David's, the Earl of Shrewsbury, and several other lords, who
disobeyed the summons which they had received to attend a Great
Council held at Westminster on the 25th of June preceding, ** giving
full strange example [to others of disobedience,*' and peremptorily
commanding them to appear at the Great Council to be held there on
the 21st of October - - • - p. 216
Lbid.^'MinuU of the CauneU. The Duke of York to be directed to
convey the Duke of Exeter to Pomfret Castle, and the Chancellor of
the duchy of Lancaster to issue a writ to the constable of the castle,
commanding him to receive the said Duke - - - p. 217
TWcf.— Writ to Sir Brian Stapleton, Sir John Melton, and Sir Thomas
1454-5.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xxvii
Rampstoiiy commandiDg them to proceed to Pomfret Castle to awak
upon and '* entende upon the saufgard" of the Duke of Exeter p. 218
^4M wr 9Sfih Julyy S2 Hen. VL 1454.— Letter from the King, signed by
the Council, to the Duke of Norfolk, commanding him to appear
before the Council on the 28th of October, to prove the accusa-
tions which he had made against the Duke of Somerset - p. 218
33 Hen. VI. 1454-5.
\%tk Naoember^ 33 Hen. VI. 1454. — Ordinances for the regulation of
the King's household - - - - p. 220—^233
3ftf Febnuayy tqiparenify in the 33ftf Hen. VL 1455.^<-Letter from the
King to the Duke of Exeter, commanding him, on account of cer-
tain riots and offences by him committed, to proceed to Wallingford
Castle, so as to be there by the Tuesday following at the latest p. 234
I44h May^ S3 Hen. VL 1455.— Letters of credence for, and instruc-
tions issued to, the commissioners who were appointed to raise money
for the defence of Calais : — annexed is a list of the commissioners
for the different connties - - - - p. 234—244
Apparently in Junef 33 Hen. VL 1455. — Letter from the King to
Tarious Peers, informing them of his intention to hold a Parliament
on the 9th of the ensuing month, and commanding them to attend
the same, '^ mesurably accompaignied accordyng to their estate, with
their houshold mayney and noon otherwise*' - - p. 244
26£ft June^ 33 Hen. VL 1455.— ilfmiife of the Council^ stating that the
Earl of Worcester had been directed to proceed to Wallingford
Castle to take charge of the Duke of Exeter, who was confined
there ; which he had not done, because t}ie Duchess of Suffolk was
Constable of the Castle ; that he had therefore been discharged
from the performance of that duty, and had been commanded to
appear before the King ; that information thereof had been given
to the Duchess, who was at the same time enjoined to keep the Duke
of Exeter in sure custody - - - - - p. 245
dih July, 33 Hen, VL 1455.— Letter from the King to the Sheriff of
Kent, stating that he had been informed that ** busy labour" was
made by certain persons in that county for the choosing of Knights
for the Parliament to be holden on the 9th of the present month,
and commanding him to make proclamation at the time of the elec-
tion that it was the King's will that the ^ shire have their free elec-
tion according to his laws and ordinances'' - - - p. 246
9ih Jtdy, 33 Hen, VL 1455. — ^Letter from the King to the Bishop of
Durham, the Earl of Westmoreland, and the Lords Fitz Hugh and
Scrope, expressing the <^ great comfort" which he had derived from
the letters sent by them from Newcastle, declaring the " manly
xxvHi CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [33 Hen.VI.
• resisting'* which had been made to the King's enemies by the inhabi-
tants of Berwick ; thanking them for their exertions, and excusing
the Earl of Northumberland from attending the Parliament - p. 247
9ek Jufyy 33 Hen. VL 14'55.— Letter from the King to the Earl of
Northumberland, thanking him for his '* devoir, diligence, labour,
and pain, as well in victualling the town and castle of Berwick, as
in resisting the malice of the King's enemies," and excusing his
attendance in Parliament - - - - * P* ^^
Ibid. — Letter from the King to Sir John Heron of Ford, and to Robert
Manners, esquire, returning thanks to them for their '< faith, truth,
diligence, and manhood, in resistence of his enemies, and safeguard
of the town and castle of Berwick** - - . ' P* ^^^
I2th July, 33 Ben. VI. 1455 — Letter from the King to Sir John
Gresley and Roger Vernon, who had riotously assembled the King's
subjects against his peace, commanding them to appear before the
Council at Westminster on the 21st of the present month - p. 250
Ibid. — Letter from the King to Nicholas Gresley, alluding to the riotous
assemblies which had been made by his kinsmen and others, and
commanding him to appear before the Council - - p. 25l
2Srd July, 33 Hen. VI. 1455.— Letter from the King to William Say,
bailiff of Sandwich, and others, commanding them to deliver to the
Earl of Salisbury, as a gift from the King, *< a bicoket " garnished
and gilt, two " saletts *' garnished and not gilt, two pair of ** brigan-
ders *' covered with velvet set with gilt nails, a gown of velvet, and
all other harness, being in their custody, which had been forfeited
by the rebellion of Lord Camoys • - - - p. 251
4/A Augusty 33 Hen. VI. 1455. — Writ to the Treasurer and Barons of the
Exchequer, commanding them to make allowance to William Say, in
his account, of the articles above mentioned - ~ P* ^52
25/A July, 33 Hen. VI. 1455. — Letter from the King to the Duchess of
Burgundy, complaining that, in contravention of the treaties existing
between the two countries, a knight named Pierre de Prennes had
seized at Burburgh one Thomas Wymark, the agent of the mayor of
the staple at Calais, and had imprisoned him until he surrendered
such goods, gold, silver, letters, bonds, and other things as he had with
him ; and demanding restitution thereof - - * P« ^^
^nd August^ 33 Hen. VI. 1455.— Petition to the King from John Ship-
ward, praying for permission to export to Gascony or Spain, in a
vessel of 300 tons burthen, goods and merchandize not pertaining to
the staple of Calais, and to import others in lieu of them : — which
was granted - - - - . " P- 254
6ih August, 33 Hen. VL 1455.— Petition to the King from the clerks of
his chapel, stating that their number was less than was wont ; praying
that there might be at least twenty-four << singing men ;'* that
William Stevenys might continue to say daily mass of our Lady, to
read the gospel, and keep the vestiary ; and that a person might be
appointed to read the epistle : — which was granted - * P* ^6
1455^.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xxix
BA Atiffusi, 33 Hen. VI. 1455.— Letter from the Eang to Alphonso King
of Portugal, acknowledging the receipt of his letters, which requested
that attempts against the treaties might be reformed, the breakers
thereof punished, and measures adopted for the prevention thereof
in future ; stating that persons had been appointed to confer thereon
with the Portuguese Ambassadors ; that commissions and proclama-
tions for that purpose had been issued, and that nothing which lay
in the King's power to preserve peace should be neglected - p. 257
M Avgusty 33 Hen. VL 1455.— Petition to the King from Sir Thomas
Lomley, constable of Scarborough Castle, praying for permission to
surrender the letters patent by which he held that office " in like
manner and form as Ralph Babthorp had it," and that others might
be issued, granting to him the custody of the castle with all profits
thereto belonging to the value of j£20 yearly, a robe yearly at the
great wardrobe, 25 marks yearly out of the farm of the town of
Scarborough, and 25 marks out of the issues of the county of York ;
on condition that he should annually expend 40 marks thereof in
repairing the castle : — which was granted - - ~ P* ^d
34 Hen. VI. 1455-6.
IQth November i 34 Hen. VL 1455.— ilfutu/ie of the Council^ stating, that
whereas the King could not in person be present at the Parliament
to be holden at Westminster on the 1 2th of the present month, he
had issued a commission empowering Richard Duke of York to hold
the said Parliament, and to do therein in the King's name all such
things as were to be done for the good rule and government of the
realm, and also by assent of Council to end and dissolve the said
Parliament - - - - - - p. 2(>1
19ih November, 34 Hen. VL 1455. — Petition to the King and Council
from Sir John Tempest, knight, who had been appointed Sheriff of
Lincolnshire, praying that he might hold his office by ** approwment,"
and not be charged in his account <* with the hoole extente of the
said shire :" — ^which was granted - - ~ P* ^63
4e4 Decembery 34 Hen, VL 1455. — Letter from the King to the Fope»
stating, that although his Majesty had recommended and his Holiness
had promoted Master John Hals to the vacant see of Exeter, there
were many reasons why that appointment should be cancelled, espe-
cially as at the instance of the princes, peers, nobles, and all the
commonalty of the realm he had promised to confer the next vacant
see on George Nevill, son of the Earl of Salisbury, which promise
he had, at the time of Hals's appointment, forgotten; that the
XXX CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [34- Hen. VI.
canons of Exeter had unanimously elected Nevill as their pastor, and
Hals had surrendered his claim : he therefore prays the Pope to
confirm the election - - - * P* ^^ — ^7
5th December^ S45 Hen. VL 1455. — Letter from the King to the Earls
of Arundel and Wiltshire, the Lords Fttzwarine and St. Amand, and
other lords, knights, and esquires, informing them that he had sent
the Duke of York into Devonshire for the purpose of quelling the
disturbances in that county, and commanding them to render him all
the aid in their power - - - " P- 267—270
9th December, 34* Hen. VL 1455.— Letter from the King to Hugh
Louth er, esquire, informing him that he having been appointed
sheriff of Cumberland, a dedimus potestatem had been issued to Sir
Thomas Nevill to receive his oath, and charging him under a penalty
of 4^2,000 to undertake the office - - - p. 271
10th December, 34 Hen. VL 1455. — Petition to the King and Council from
John Stanhope, esquire, late sheriff of the counties of Nottingham and
Derby, praying that an allowance of j^lOO might be made to him in
his account, in consideration of the expenses which he had incurred
in assembling people to support the Justices of Oyer and Terminer
at the sessions at Chesterfield and Derby ; in '* coming with much
people to hold the shires to resist such people as was not well dis-
posed ; in riding with much people in executing of his office, because
the people is wild ;" and in raising and conducting to Doncaster 300
persons for the rescue of Berwick : — ^80 were allowed to him
p. 272
11^ December, 34 Hen, VL 1455. — A commission signed by the Council
empowering the Duke of York to prorogue the Parliament from the
13th of December to the 14th of January, and on that day and after-
wards to hold the same, and to do therein, in the King's name, all
things which were to be done for the good rule and government of
the realm, and to end and dissolve it - - - p. 274
ISth December, 34 Hen, VL. 1455. — ^Letter from the King to the garrison
of Calais, relative to their payment - - - p. 276 — 279
15^ December, 34 Hen. VL. 1455. — Letter from the King to various lords
spiritual and temporal who had neglected to attend the present
Parliament, whereto they had been summoned, charginjg them to
appear at Westminster on the 14th of January next - p. 279 — 282
16^ December, 34 Hen. VL. 1455. — Petition to the King and Council
from Alianora Duchess of Somerset, praying for a grant of j£200
yearly for the maintenance of Henry, son and heir of Edmund the
late Duke, and also for an assignment of dower out of his lands : —
which was granted - ' - - p. 282 — 285
24/A January, 34 Hen.VL. 1456. — Grant, signed by the Council, to
Master George Nevill, of the custody of the Hospital of St. Leonard
in the City of York, which had recently been surrendered by William
Scrope, clerk - - - - - p. 285
1456-8.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xxxi
Stt^/osttfOfy, 34 Hen. VL 1456.— Letter signed by Lord Stanley, the
chamberlain, stating that the King having received the fealty of
William, son and heir of Sir John Stapleton, had restored to him his
limds, and requesting some person, whose name does not appear, to
present him to the King for the purpose of doing his homage - p. 286
%lh Juncj 34 Hen. VL 1456.— Letter from the King to several knights
and esquires in Kent, informing them that he had issued a commission
of oyer and terminer to certain lords, judges, and others, to hold a
gessioQ at Maidstone for the punishment of disturbers of the peace,
and desiring them to give all favour and assistance to the said Com-
missioners - - - - - - p. 287
35 Hen. VL 1456-7-
Between the 9^th September and \st October, 35 Hen. VL 1456. — Letter
from Lord Stanley, the Chamberlain, to the Chancellor, informing
him that the Abbot of Grimsby had done his fealty and homage, and
that it was the Kang s will that his temporalities shoul(^ be restored
p. 290
36 Hen. VI. 1457-8.
2dih Navembery 36 Hen. VL. 1457 — Letter from the King to the lords
spiritual and temporal, informing them that on account of matters of
great weight he had resolved to continue his Great Council on the
27th of January next coming, and commanding them to give their
attendance on that day - - * P* ^^0 — 293
IM February, 36 Hen. VL. 1458^— Letter from the King to the Earl of
Arundel, commanding him to attend the Great Council at West-
minster in all haste - - . • ~ P* ^^^
4M Marchy 36 Hen. VL. HSS.-^Minute (fthe Council It was agreed that
5002. should be paid to the Earl of Warwick, for the keeping of the
sea, out of the money arising from the general pardon last granted :
— annexed is a warrant to the keeper Qf the hanaper in Chancery for
the payment thereof - - - - - p. 294
6ihAuffugi, 36 Hen. VL. 1458. — Letter from the King to the Chancellor,
commanding him to issue letters patent to exonerate Thomas Havill
of Oxford, brewer, from serving on assizes, juries, inquisitions, &c.,
and from filling the offices of sheriff, escheator, coroner, or collector
of fifteenths, taxes, or subsidies •* - - - p. 295
xxxii CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. [36-38 Hen.VL
26th August^ 36 Hen. VL 1458. — Letter from the King to several lords
spiritual and temporal, charging them to attend at the palace of
Westminster on the 10th of October next, to give their advice in
such matters as should be treated of in the Council there - p. 297
37 Hen. VI. 1458^9.
5th February, 37 ffen. VL 1469. — Petition to the Eang from Ralph Lord
Sudeley and John Lord Stourton, praying for payment of the wage»
due to them for keeping the town and marches of Calais - p. 297
20th February, apparently in the S7th Hen. VL 1459.— General summons
to the Lords of Parliament to attend a Great Council to be held at
Westminster on the 2nd of April next coming, for the purpose of
appointing an embassy to a solemn council limited by the Pope to
begin on the 1st of June, "for the defence of our faith against the
Turks and other mescreante*' ... - p. 298
29^ June, 37 Hen. VL 1459. — Letter from the King to the Grand
Master of Rhodes, refusing permission for the Prior of the Hospital
of Saint John of Jerusalem to attend a chapter of the order p. 299
IbicL — Letter from the King to the Chancellor of Rhodes, requesting
him to desire the Grand Master to refrain from commanding the
attendance of the Prior of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
p. 300
Lbid. — Letter from the King to Sir John Langstrothere and other
Englishmen in the convent at Rhodes, commanding them to inform
the Grand Master and others of the King's determination not to
allow the Prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem to attend
the general chapter - - - - " P* 301
25th July, 37 Hen. VL. 1 459.— Warrant to the Treasurer and Cham-
berlains of the Exchequer, for the payment of the English ambas-
sadors who attended the diet at Mantua - - " P* 302
38 Hen. VI. 1459-60.
Qth August, 38 Hen. VL 1460.— Writ to the keeper of the Privy Seal,
commanding him to issue letters directing the constables of Beau-
mauris, Conway, Flint, Hawardin, Holt, and Ruthin, to provide for
the security of those places : — to the Earl of Pembroke, assuring him
of the King*s belief in the loyalty of the Duke of York, and com-
1460-1.] CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE, xxxin
mandiDg him to deliver Denbigh Castle to the Duke's deputy ;— and
to the Lord Powis to surrender the castle of Montgomery - p. 303
11th Avgusi, 38 Hen, VI. H60«~Letter from the King to Sir William
Herbert, knight, Walter Devereux and Roger Vaugban, esquires,
giving them power to prevent all unlawful assemblies, to arrest all
such persons as should in defiance of the King's command attempt
to victual or fortify castles, places, and strengths in Wales, and to
adopt measures for the safe custody of the said castles until the
King should give further directions - - ' " P- ^^
22dAuffusiy 38 Hen, VL 1460. — Proclamation commanding that Sir John
Nevill and Isabel his wife should be re-admitted to the peaceable
enjoyment of such manors and lordships as they possessed previously
to the last parliament held at Coventry, any act, statute, or ordinance
therein passed notwithstanding • - - - p- 306-
39 Hen. VI. 1460-1.
With Nocembery 39 Hen. VL 1460.— Warrant for the payment of lOiL ta
Master George Holland, who was going abroad on the King's ser-
vice - ------p. 307
28^ January y 39 Hen. VL 1461. — Letters from the King to the Earl of
Arundel, Lords Cobham, Abergavenny, Dacre, Delawarr, and several
knights, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, and other persons, commanding
them to raise forces and therewith to join the King in all haste, '* for
the resistance of those misruled and outrageous people in the north
parts of this realm," who are, it is said, '< coming towards these parta,
to the destruction thereof, of you, and subversion of all our land"
p. 307— 31(>
ACTS OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL OF KING HENRY THE
SIXTH, THE EXACT DATES OF THE GREATER PART
OF WHICH ARE NOT ASCERTAINED.
ISM Jvhfy 2 Hen. VL. 1424^— Letters patent stating that the King had,
by the advice of his Council, ordained that 10,000 marks should be
annually raised, for the expenses of his household, from the following
sources, viz. from the Chamberlains of South and North Wales 1,000'
marks ; from wardships, marriages, and other casualties, 1,000/. ; from
the keeper and exchange of the mint within the Tower of London and
York, 500 marks ; from the collectors of the subsidy of 3«. on the ton
and 12d. in the pound from aliens in all the ports of England, 2,000
marks ; and from the collectors of the subsidies on wools, 5,000 marks^
VOL. VI. [ C 1
xxxiv CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE.
It was also provided that nothing should be paid out of these sources
of revenue until the Treasurer had received the said sum of lO^OOOi.
p. Sll
ISiA November^ 16 Hen* VI. i^STt-^Memorandum stating that on this
day the King appointed the members of his Council, who are named,
regulated the mode of transacting business in Council, and fixed the
salaries which they were respectively to receive - - p. 312 — S15
^ih Fihruary, 22 Men. VL 1444.— Warrant for the payment of 40L to
John Wenlok, esquire, who was going on an embassy to France p. 815
Tenq>. Hen. FZ, date uncertain* — Minutes of the Council^ containing
advice submitted to the King for his guidance in answering petitions,
making grants, issuing letters under the signet, &c - p. 316— SdO
13th January^ 23 Hen. VI. 1445. — Letters patent, granting licence to
Angelo Tany of Florence to bring into England for sale a '* balaice **
of 320 carats, weighing two ounces and a quarter, without payment
of custom, unless it were sold - - * ~ P* ^^I
Apparent^ in 23rd Hen. VI. 1444. — Instructions issued to the com-
missioners who were appointed to borrow money for the expenses of
the King's marriage - - «... p. 322 — 325
Assigned to the 24^ Hen. VI. 1445-6. — Petition to the King praying
that parchment and other necessaries might be provided <' for the
writing and making of certain books in your Exchequer/' which are
specified, "of large and legible hand and in great volumes,'' the
originals being in so small a hand and decayed as to be scarcely
legible p. 325
17 th February, 26 Hen. VI. 1443.— Petition to the King for a warrant
to the keeper of the jewels for the delivery of a cup of silver gilt,
weighing four pounds eleven ounces and three quarters, to John Say,
esquire -------p. 326
1(MA April, assigned to 26th Hen. VI. 1447-8.— Letter from the King to
the bailiff of Great Yarmouth, charging him to bring before the
Council on the 20th of the present month Richard Elys, a merchant
of that town, who had been arrested by a writ of " capias utlegat' **
for a debt due to Sir John Fastalf .... p. 326
Assigned to the 26th Hen. VI. 1447-8.— Writ directed to the keeper of
the seal of Chester, forbidding him to interfere with the jurisdiction
of the bishop of that see in matters touching the ** correction of
souls" -----•• p. 327
Assigned to the 26th Hen. VL 1447-8.— Petition to the Lord Treasurer
from Richard Heynes and Robert Pylton, the King's commissioners
(of customs), stating that by the connivance of Robert Pyn, one of
the bailiffs of Yarmouth, a quantity of wool and woolfells had been
shipped from that port, whereby the King had been defrauded of
customs to the amount of 1,000/. ; that the said Pyn being supported
by other misdoers, they could not perform their duties ; and praying
that he might be cited to appear before the Council, and that Sir
CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. xxxv
Miles Stapleton and Thomaa Fen^ the constables of the town, might
be commanded to assist them in the execution of their office : — which
was granted .... .p. S28-~SS0
Dated lUk Jvfyy apparently in ike Slsi Him. VL 1463^— Letter from the
King to Henry Bromflete, Lord Vessy, charging him to send by the
bearer the sum of 200 marks, which he had promised to lend towards
the support of the army in Guienne - • - - p. SSO
Srd Mmrky 34 Hen. VL U55-6.—3Bmae$ of Council relative to the
appointment of a sheriff for the county of Lincoln - ' • p. SSI
flA January^ apparently in the S5l4 Hen. VL H57. — ^Letter from the
King to the lords spiritual and temporal, summoning them to attend
a Great Council at Coventry on the 14th of February following
p.SSS
Vltk November, assigned to the S2nd Hen. VL 1454.— Letter from the
KjDg to the Chancellor of the University and Mayor of the town of
Cambridge, charging them to prevent the scholars or commonalty
from interfering in the ensuing election of knights of the shire
p.^S5
ISA April, teng>. Hen. r/.*- Letter from the King to Lord Welles,
charging him to keep the peace towards William Tailbois - p. S36
Temp. Hen. VL — Memoranda submitted to the King by the Archbishop
of Canierbury, the Lord Chancellor, to whom his Majesty had
referred certain letters lately received from the Emperor on the
subject of the church ; who was to suggest what answer should be
returned thereto - - - - - p. 887 — 389
16<4 Jprilj temp. Hen. VL — ^Letter from the King to the keeper of the
privy seal, commanding him to summon the knights and esquires
therein named to attend the Council on the Slst of May following
p. 339—342
MEMORANDA OF THE DELIVERY OF THE GREAT SEAL
DURING THE REIGN OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH.
28th Sqftember, 1 Hen. VL 1422. — ^Memorandum of the surrender of the
Great Seal of gold by Thomas Bishop of Durham, Chancellor of
England, to the King at Windsor Castle, and of the delivery thereof
by the Duke of Gloucester to Simon Gaunstede, keeper of the Rolls
of Chancery, by whom it was conveyed to London - p. 343
16(& November t 1 Hen.VL 1422. — Letters patent appointing Thomas
fiishop of Durham chancellor of England - - p. 345
}6thJtifyy 2Hen.VL 1424.^Memorandum of the delivery of the Great
Seal of silver by Thomas Bishop of Durham, Chancellor of England,
to the King at Hertford Castle, and of the delivery of the same to
Henry Bishop of Winchester - - - - p. 346
xMvi CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE.
14^ Marchj 4 Hen,VL 1426. — Memorandum of the delivery of the
Great Seal of silver by the Duke of Bedford to the King at the
Abbey of Leicester, and of the re-delivery of it to the Bishop of
London, who took the oath of Chancellor - ~ P* ^7
9Bth Februaiyy 10 Hen.VL 1432. — Memorandum of the surrender of
the two Great Seals by John Archbishop of York, at Westminster,
and of the delivery of the same by the King to John Bishop of Bath,
on the 27th of the same month « - • - p. S49
^2nd Aprily 11 JIen.VL 1433. — Memorandum of the delivery of the
Great Seal of silver to John Frank clerk, keeper of the Rolls of
Chancery, to be used by him during the absence of the Bishop of
Bath, the Chancellor, in France, and of the surrender thereof to the
said Bishop on the 23d of May following - - - p. 351
31«f January J 28 Hen. VL 1450. — Memorandum of the surrender of the
two Great Seals by John Archbishop of Canterbury, and of the de*
livery thereof by the King to the Archbishop of York - p. 352
9nd April, 32 Hen.VL 1454. — Memorandum of the appointment of the
Earl of Salisbury as chancellor, upon the death of John late Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, and of the delivery of the three Great Seals to
him in Parliament - - - - - P- 355
7th Marchy 33 Hen^VL 1455. — Memorandum of the surrender of the
three Great Seals by Richard Earl of Salisbury, and of the delivery
thereof by the King to Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury - p. 358
11^ October^ 35 Hen^VL 1456. — Memorandum of the surrender of the
three Great Seals by Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury at Coventry,
and of the delivery thereof by the King to Thomas Bishop of Win-
chester - - - - - - -p* 360
7ih Jfdy^ 38 Hen. VL 1460. — Memorandum of the surrender of a Great
Seal of silver by William Bishop of Winchester to the King in his
tent pitched in Hardingstone Field, near Northampton - p* 361
25^ Jtdy^ 38 HetuVL 1460. — Memorandum of the surrender of the
three Great Seals by Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury in the
palace of the Bishop of London, and of the delivery thereof by the
King to George Bishop of Exeter • - - p. 362
ADDENDA et CORRIGENDA.
p. ill. 1. 9Smfor Duke read EarL
y. ]• 2^ fir Ibid, read Minutes of the CounciL
▼i. ]. 42.>r 92. rtad 29.
iv. and 15^16. The date assigned to the letter from the
Council to the Duke of Brittany in this page is very
doubtful. See the Preface^ p. yi* note 2.
28. 1. IS. far 1443 read 144S-4v
▼ii. and 32. The proper date of the Proceeding of the Council
is undoubtedly the 1st February^ 22d Hen. VI. 14449
notwithstanding it is said in the original transcript in the
British Museum to have occurred in the 23rd Hen.yi.
It ought, therefore, to have been inserted in p. 9S.
See the Preface, pp. x-xii.
67- The Priory mentioned in the petition is presumed to have
been Rowner in Hiampskire. Vide the Preface,
p. Ixxxviii.
xviii. and 130. The letter from the King to Sir Thomas Stan-
ley and Sir Thomas Harrington must have been written
in the 32nd and not in the 31st Hen. VL— 1454
instead of 1453. It ought, therefore, to have been
inserted in p. 181. See the Preface, p. lv«
131. L 30. Exon <^ihe original copyisi mutt have been Oxon.
298. 1. 19- far June read April.
299. 1. \^.far 19. read 29.
396. 1. 12. far 4, 78, read 4, 7, 8.
VOL. VI. [c 3]
ACTS
OF
THE PRIVY COUNCIL,
IN THE REIGN OF
KING HENRY THE SIXTH.
1422 — 1461.
VOL. VI. B
ACTS OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL
OF
KING HENRY VI.
Acta de Anno Vicesimo secundo.
[Bibl. Cotton. Julius, B. vi. f. 56. coniemporary MS.
The King's answer to the demands made by Giles of Brittany, and the
other ambassadors of the Duke of Brittany, on the 26th August
1443.1 This article is printed in D. Maurice's '' Memoires pour
servir pour de preuves de la histoire de Bretagne," (tome ii.
pp. 1S60-1,) from the Original in the archives at Nantes. See
also Lobineau's Histoire de Bretagne, (tome i. p. 62,S.) There are
no variations between the copies, and this document is reprinted
here because it forms part of, and illustrates, the other articles
connected with the afiairs of Brittany in the year 1443.]
Responses faictes depar le Roy nre i^ a MonfGilles
de Bretaigne et a aurs gens de Monf le Due
de Bretaigne sur les choses darment par eulx
exposees au Roy depar le dit Due.
Premierement j le Roy fire dit seignr a este \ est tres-
joieux et to content de la venue devers lui de mond
1 Although the 26th August 144S was in the twenty -first year of the
reign of King Henry the Sixth, this article is inserted under the twenty-
tecimd year of that reign, to prevent its being separated from the other
documents relating to Brittany which were written in the year 1443.
B 2
I ■ -.,
I -
4 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1443.
i
i' Gilles lequel tous temps il a eu et av • • • en es-
perance amour 1 singuliere dileccon come raison est^
tant pour la prochainete de lignaigne dont il attient au
Roy J come pour les vertue^ 1 nobles meurs que le Roy
scet 1 cognoist estre en la personne dicellui Monf Gilles
des son jone age quil estoit devs le Roy j esqueles
vertuz il a tousjours depuis continue par augmentacon
de bn en mieulx sic5me le Roy en est aplein informe j
Et mercie le Roy led Due du desir quil a que mond
i Gilles lui face Ivice.
Itemy entant que touche la possession du Conte de
Richmont que mond i de Bretaigne demande en faisant
au Roy homaige par procur \c.
Response y Le Roy ne oit ne entenoit oncqs jusques
a pnt que mond f de Bretaigne pretendist avoir aucun
droit ou dit Conte j Et pour ce le Roy desirant a uncliun
soulz lui mistrer bonne justice ainsi que a sa Royal
Mageste apptient le veult faire en ceste partie a mond
( de Bretaigne qui est son parent si tresprochain y Si
fera a grant diligen veoir 1 visiter les registres et en-
seignemens estans en son tresor et en ses cours des
temps de ses pdecesseurs ^ Et selon ce qui en pora
estre trouve il fera en ceste partie a mond f de Bretaigne
si bonne expediccon avec toute faveur que par raison
devra estre content j Et sil appt au Roy que le Due
ait droit oud Conte de Richemont il le recevra de rsbon
cueur a lomaige qui y apptient selon les droiz loys
coustumes % usaiges de son roy™* Danglerre.
Item^ entant que mond i de Bretaigne desire soy
emploier au bn de la paix genial dentre les deulx roy™** de
France Tt Danglerre j le Roy en mercie du bon du cueur
mond i de Bretaigne j Et desire le Roy que le dit Due
et tous auts princes Catholiques aiet cognois^ance et
144S.] 22 HENRY VI. 5
letir memoire y coment feu prince de tresnoble recor-
dadon le Roy son pere que Dieux absoille poursuy le
Bn de ladte paix tant quil vesqui de toute sa poissance v
£t depuis le Roy nre i en ensuivant les traches de sond
fer^ feu pere a continuelmt durant son temps poursuy
icelle paix samblement ^ Car toutesfoiz que par son
adversaire ou aurs la matiere lui a este ouverte il y a
entendu efiectuelmt^ en envoiant pva plufs foiz ^ en
dirs lieux grans seignrs de son sang et autres notables
hommes de son conseil de divers estats gamiz de povoir
souffisant pour y besoignier % conclure a la tres grosse
charge 1 despense du Roy^ et ses parens vassaulx 1
fviteurs y ont bn prins grosses perils % labours j et na
tenu au Roy ne aux siens que pieca la chose nait prins
bonne fin^ Neantmoins le Roy toudis continuant en
son saint 1 loable ppos pour revence de Dieu nre Benoit
Createur pour eviter lefiiision du sang humain j les perilz
des ames du peuple Xpien j et les autres inconveniens
qui de plus en plus se acroissent t multiplient a cause
de la longue cbtinuance des guerres^ est ^ sera tons
temps come prince Catholique j prest de entendre au bn
de ladte paix par tons bons t raisonnables moiens ^ et
est tresjoieux 1 content que mond £ de Bretaigne se
emploie et besoigne en icelle c5me mediateur j sans
toutesvoies en forclore ou debouter autres qui par cy
devant se sont offers ou qui cy aps se pouroient offrir
de9s le Roy a . . • y emploier y Et se aucunes ouv'tures
CD sont ou estoient ftes ... la partie advse a mond
£ de Bretaigne J le Roy lui prie que tons temps en
bonne diligen les lui veuUe signifier c5me en lui en
parfaitte confidence ^ Encores de pnt le Roy est tout
conclu 1 delibree denvoier bn procbment en France ses
notables ambassadeurs lesquelz poront plus aulong de«
6 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, X144S.
clairer a mond i de Bretaigne laffeccion % parfait vouloir
que le Roy a au hn dicelle paiXi/ et se la divine
misericorde voult estre sa grace que paix y puist estre
trouver j le Roy fera que mond i^ de Bretaigne y
sera compris par bons et honnorables termes.
£t entant que les dessusdiz depar mond f de Bretaigne
desirent restitucon estre fte de plufs prises 1 pilleries
quilz dient estre ftes par les subgietz du Roy sur ceulx
du pais de Bretaigne 1c. Le Roy a souventesfoiz receu
t cliun jour recoit divses grans pleintes de ses subgietz^
disans eulx estre tresgrandemt adomaiges par teles prises
faites sur eulx par ceulx de Bretaigne j dont le Roy a
plufs foiz escript a feu le Due son oncle et aussi a mond
i de Bretaigne depuis quil est venu a seignourie. Mais
le Roy na point sceu que a ses subgietz en ait este fte
restitucon j Car encore joumelmt a grant clameur en
sont faittes vers lui poursuites^ dont le Roy a grant
pitie desirant que a teles prises soit convenablemt remedie
% pourveu ^ Et acelle fin fut avise trois ans a ou envir
par les ges du Roy avec les gens de feu le Due son oncle
lors par lui envoies en Angleterre j que le Due envoieroit
pardeca de ses gensy avec lesquelz le Roy deputeroit
des siens pour oir toutes teles pleintes et finalmt en ap-
pointier tant dun coste que dautre^/ en pourveant depaix
1 seurte pour le temps advenir j dont riens na este fait
de la ptie dud Due j Si na pas tenu au Roy ne aux siens ^
Neantmoins toutesfoiz que le Due y voulera envoier j le
Roy comettera de ses gens pour besoignr avec ceulx du
Due au bn de ceste matiere y et ce pendant le Roy fera
crier 1 publier sur ses ports de mer en toute dilige£l que
par ses gens ne soit porte aucun ddmaige aux subgietz
de mond £ de Bretaigne 1 desirant que samblablemt par
dela;mond f de Bretaigne face comander aux siens pour
44450 ^ HENRY VI. 7
les subgietz du Roj^ Donne ou palais a Westm le
sxirj'^V jour Daoust Ian de grace mil ccccxliij.
Benet.
{In dorso.) par'** y i Gilles of Bf 1 ]>e o^^ ambassadeurs
deli^ed unto )^ K. and Jianswerf y^JL gave unto he
at Henlee on ]^ HeetL
[Bibl. Cotton. Julius^ B. yi. f. 51. amten^wrory MS.
Hie following appear to be the Answers giveir by the King to
points submitted by Giles of Biittany, after the preceding docu-
ment was written* and apparently between September and De-
cember, 22 Hen. VI. 1443.]
Response faicte depar le Roy nre souvain seignur
a certaines demandes nadgaires baillees en
esc^t par Mon# Giles de Bretaigne.
Primerement y entant q led Monf Gilles demande de-
livrance estre faicte depar le Roy a Monf le Due de
Bretaigne son fre de la Conte de Richemont pour enjoir
par le dit Due Ic. £n ensuiant le response qui en ceste
partie fut nagaires faicte aux ambassadeurs dicellui Due
qui darnient vinrent pardeca en la compaignie de mond
i Gilles y le Roy a fait veoir ^ visiter en grant diligen les
registres 1 asseignemens estans en son tresore et en ses
courts des temps de ses predecesseurs j Et par iceulx est
trouve tresclerement q feu le Roy Edward tint en sa
main le dit Conte de Richemont 1 enapres le donna au
Due de Lenclastre son fitz j le quel a ce tiltre le tint et
possida par aucun temps et jusques a ce qil feust re-
compensez en autre manier^ et reprinst lors le Roy
Richard le Second led Conte en sa main«
B 4
8 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1448.
Item ^ par yceulx asseignemens est trouve semMement
que enapres icellui Conte de Richemont fut baillie a la
Sic. Roy Anne en assignement de partie de son douaire ^
• • •
la quel a ce tiltre enjoie tout son vivant.
Item J par le trespassement dicelle Dame j le dit Conte
de Richemont retourna a la coronne j et le tint feu le
Roy Henry le quart qui Dieux absoille j lequelle en disposa
a son plaisir j Neantmoins ainsi que aursfoiz a este re-
spondu J le Roy desirant a uncl&un estre admistree
raison et justice ainsi qil apptienty vouilant aussi a mond
i de Bretaigne faire toute amistie et faveur y attendue la
prouchainete de lignaige en quoy mond i de Bretaigne
lui attienti/ toutesfoiz q icellui Monf de Bretaigne
vouldra faire remonstrer au Roy plus au clere le tiltre \
le droit qil pretend avoir au Conte de Richemont j le
Roy lui fera faire en ceste partie si bonne et gracieuse
expedicon de justice avecques toute faveur que par raison
mond i de Bretaigne en devra estre content j en faisant
par led Due de son coste devs le Roy en ceste partie ce
quil apptiendra par raison.
Item J entant q mond Seignur de Bretaigne desire faire
au Roy lomaige deu a cause du dit Conte de Richemont
par procur ^ et q pour le faire en nom de lui il ad donne
povair aud Monf Gilles son fre "^c. ainsi que dessus est
dit J le Roy vouldroit i'aire a mond i de Bretaigne le
plus damiste et faveur qil poroit bonnement ^ Mays
selonc les loys 1 la custume de son reaume Dangleterre
a toutz temps observees j quiconques lui doit h5mage il
est tenu de la faire en sa personne j Et nest point trouve
que es temps passez le Roy ne ses predecesseurs y aient
receu aucun en autr manier j fuissent leurs filz^ leurs fresy
ne pour quelque prochainete de lignaige.
1441] 92 HENRY VI. 9
£t quant a ce q mond Seignur Grilles desire q mond 1^
de Bretaignie soit compris en traictie de la paix se la
divine misericord e veult ottroier q paix soit trouvee entre
le Roy et son adversair de Fraunce j Ja par diverses foitz
et darmet par lesditz ambassadeurs du Due le Roy lui a
fait savoir hn largemt de son entencon en ceste matier j
£t que en cas devantd mon [dit] ( de Bretaigne y sera
compris par bons et honurables termes y la quele chose
]e Roy et son counsail quant le temps venra avront en
bonne souvenance.
[Bibl. Cotton. Julias, B. vi. f. 54. eontengmrary MS*
Memoir containing Giles of Brittany's answers to certain propositions
made to him by the King's Council. The date of this article does
not appear, but it was probably written in 1443.]
Memoire de remonstrer les chof qui eni sur les
demandes q on a fait a mon Seigneur Gilles de
Bretaigne.
Premier y coment Monseignr Gilles de Bretaigne des
le temps de son enfance et jeune age sest dispose a Ivir
le Roy et a vouloir son honneur bien t proufit a son
poair^ et deiupuix en considerant les grans bus \ honn'rs
quil a pleu au Roy lui faire a tousjours psevere ^ cotinue
enrs lui son bon ppos et volente j et pour actainer le
Roy de son bon vouloir 1 desir quil a de lui faire f vice sest
dispose a venir en psonne pdeca en obtempant mesmes
aux tres q par plul^s [foiz] il a pleu au Roy lui escripre j
et auxi a p le f^ de Seudelay 1 au?s ses fviteurs il le lui
a fait sav en offrant mond i' Gilles au Roy son fvice au
Roy t obeir a ses comadems.
£t soit ainsi que on a demande a mond (^ Gilles quel
^ice il vouloit faire au Roy et en quoy il se vouloit
10 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, ftU5.
femploier pour lui^ a quoy mood i^ Gillesr a respondu
que a lui napptenoit pas de choaysir le fvice quil vouloit
faire Roy j ainx estoit au Roy de lui dire It c5inander
en quel fvice son plaisir estoit quil le fveist j ceque mond
f^ Gilles desire faire de tout son cueur.
Et pour ce que on a demande a mondit Seigneur sil
vouloit ivir le Roy a la paix et a la guerre j mondit
Seigneur a respondu quil estoit content et bien joyeux
de Ivir le Roy en toutes les tacons quil lui plaira lui
c5mader j son honneur garde j pourveu quil plaise au Roy
ordener si bn de lui quil nait cause de querir son bien
ailleurs j car quant il se seroit une foiz expose 1 declaire
a la guerre il ne froit jamais abille ne recevable bonne-
ment a avoir en autre lieu aucun grant bien avantageux
et ne devroit pas le Roy vouloir len forclure • si tout
premier et avant il ne d5noit provision amond i^ Gilles
dont il peust honorablemt son estat soustenir en fvice
du Roy selon quil apptient a seigneur de telle maison
quil est et qui de si pres de lignage ataint au Roy.
' Item J et pour ce que on a demande a mondit Seigneur
Gilles quil face Iment au Roy avecques ctaines fortes
liaysons contenues es articles baillees a mond £^ p les gens
du conseilt du Roy y par moien de ctaine ordennace lui
ouverte ^ il semble amond i^ Gilles que nest chose moult
estrage J attendu ce que desf est dit^ et le bon vouloir qui!
a tousjo^E au Roy j et veu quil la fvi a son poair sanz en
avoir aucuns gaiges ne louer j aincois se y est submis
de son franc vouloir quil est vraysemble que detant q le
Roy lui fera plus de biens il lui fra oblige de plus en plus ^
et a entente de #vir le Roy plus de fait que de dit j ainsi
q nature le y amoneste.
Item^ et pour ce que on a ouvert amond (^ Gilles
Ctaines offres et ordennaces pour ce faire j il semblo.
14*3.] 2^ HENRY VL H
amond i' que elles sont moult tendres et petites j attendu
q par ce moien lui liroit force de renoncer a tout aut bien^
et toutesfoiz il sen rapporte au boa plaisir du Roy j et
cognoist bien que lad ordenuance est plus grande quil na
ddyij mais elle ne suffiroit pas a soustenir son estat a
lonneur du Roy et de lui.
Item J et mondit Seigneur Gilles voyant It considerant
ce quil a pleu au Roy par plu#s [foiz] lui escripre et auxi
fe savoir par aucuns ses #viteurs ainsi q desf est dit j et
niesmes pour le tresgrant desir et singuliere affeccon que
mondit Seignr Gilles avoit de voir le Roy en personnel en
se mettant en devoir vers lui j ainsi q raison est^ et pour
mettre son cueur a son aise j est venu pardeca^ suppliant
au Roy q sur cestes chof il lui plaise faire donn! en brieff
response amondit Seigneur et declairer en ceste mare son
intencon et bonne volente et promptemt le fe expedier a
son bon plaisir.
[Bibl. Cotton. Julius, B. vi. f.49. coniemporary MS.
Memoir delivered to the Council by Giles of Brittany, on the part of
his brother the Duke of Brittany, apparently about October or
NoTember, 22 Hen. VI. 1443. Answers were ordered to be given
to these demands on the 12th December in the same year. Vide
pp.16 — 19 postea']
MEMOiRE^de remonstrer au Roy et a son conseill les
chof qui enij lesquelles mon Seignr de Bretaigne
a fait savoir a mon Seigfir Gilles son frere.
Premier^ comt mondit Seignr de Bretaigne a fait savoir
amend f ' Gilles j que lav^saire du Roy lui a fait savoir par
Jres J conten en effeict comt il avoit sceu que le Roy devoit
evoier de [dePs] lui Monf"^ de Suffolk ou au?s des siens
pour comiiiquer ou fait de la paix j en priant mond f ^ de
12 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1443.
Bretalgne ql fust ders lui autemps quilzy arriveroientv affin
de senbesoigner et emploier au fait de lad paix j ainsi
q depavant ces heures il av* voulu que feist feu Monf* de
Bretaigne que Dieu absoille ^ et que en ce que sen feroit
le y comprandroit de sa part et y garderoit son ranc ainsi
ql lui apptient et c5me aux auts seigiirs proiches de son
sange^ laquelle allee mond i^ de Bretaigne a differe
{[ottrier] jucquesace que leust fait sav au Roy et q de
ce il sceust sa bonne volente v et que mondit Seigneur
Gilles le voulseist remonstrer au Roy j £t pour ce mondit
Seignr Gilles supplie au Roy quil lui plaise sur ce faire
savoir a mondit Seigneur de Bretaigne son bon plaisir.
Itm 4 et que mondit Seigneur de Bretaigne mesmes a
fait savoir a mondit Seigneur Gilles que Monf le Due de
Sdmercet neantmoins la paix final \ les appointems faiz
jent le Roy ses pais et subgiz et mond Seigneur de Bre-
taigne et les siens j est entre oud pais de Bretaigne avec
grant nilbre de gens darmes j en quel pais il a fait plu£i
exploiz de guerre moult crueux \ enormes et c5me
en pais de conqueste non obstant que oud pais ^ es
bonnes villes estantf es pties il \ ses gens eussent
trouve toute faveur \ recoeill coe amis 15nveillans^ et
enoultr ce mondit Seigilr de S5mercet et ses gens sont
entrez en une des villes dudit pais de Bretaigne n5mee
Laquierche^ laquelle ils ont pillee \ destruite sanz av^
esgart es appointems delad paix j ja soit ce que elle par
moulz expres y fust c5p*nse j et durant letemps quil a
tenu ladville a fait plufs cources oud pais de Bret" a
Aa totalle destruccon du peupple deviron et avant quil
sen soit voulu deptir a convenu a mond f ' de Bref*'
appointer a lui a la s5me de xx™. saluz dont il a eu
x"^. contens et du seurplus a eu seelle den esf paie
dedanz nouel pcfin lequel appointemt mond I' de Brel
a fait po' obvier aux grans maulx \ exceux q on faisoit
1448.] 22 HENRY VI. 13
a son pouvre peupple j espant le cas remonstre au Roy
quil lui en face restituSon j queS chof est fe et attemptee
conr lestat delad paix et en enfraingnant icetle ^ laquelle
mod f* de Bret*** desire enttenir de sa part. Supp*"* au
Roj q pour le Bn et enrtenement dicelle il lui plaise
faire fe reppaSon 1 restituSon des exceix et doages desfd
et 7 po'voir de son gracieux remede j car lesd chof sont
moult dures \ estranges [a endurer] a mond P de Bre-
taigne et a son pais.
Ben£t.
[Bibl. Cotton. Julius, B. vi. f. 42. eomtempcrary MS.
Letter from the Council to the Duke of Brittany, dated 2nd December,
and apparently in the 22nd Hen.VI. 1443.]
Hault \ puissant Prince v Nous sumes rscordialmet
desirant savoir lestat \ bonne prospite de vre noble
psoQue que Dieu par sa benigne grace vueille tons
temps multiplier de Bn en mieulx. Si vous supplions
que pour nre consolacon singuliere par les entvenana
messages vous plaise souvet nous en certiffier 4 car pour
nte den oir en bn ung chascu de nous aura tsg^nt leesse.
Hault 1 puissant Prince nous avons depieca \ encor de
nouvel entendu par les greifurs 1 piteuses complaints que
nous ont ftes \ font de jour en aulr les vassaulx \
subgiez du Roy Denglerre \ de France nre sorain
seignry coment non obstant le traittie de la paix final
des deux royaumes par vous voz vassaulx I subgiez si
soUennemet jure It promise j vosdiz subgiez en venant
contre ladte paix \ c5me y semble en cotept dicelle^
quant ceux de iire dit souvain seignr vont ou veignet
sur mer It tre v les aucuns pour son fvice j aulrs en leurs
marchadises \ occupacons cotidiennes qui ne pensent
14 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [144S.
nont entencon de porter ou faire aucu ddmage en voz
pais % seigneuries j meismemt ceulx qui sur la dte mer se
tiennet pour le fait de pescherie pnsant que par le
moyen de ladte paix soyent sceurs It bn venuz ainsi que
devroyent entre les vres ^ 1 que silz cheoyent en dangier
icelle paix les en deust garentir It hors getter j car silz
eussent sceu le contraire estoit 15n en leur povoir deulx
pourveoir contre les emprises en leurs advsaires quant
aucuns de vosdiz subgiez les treuvet % en peuvent avoir
la maistrise j pour tant que ne sont que poy de gens en
ung vaissel aucuns tuent \ murdrissent cruelment j aulrs
gettent en leaue sanz en avoir milicorde ^ le demourat
desquelz pour leur prouffit ne vuellet preserver la mort j
prennent lyent 1 mennet avec eulx que puis raettent ensi
crueuses horribles \ estroittes prisons que partie deulx
par le travail que on leur fait en grant distresse finissent
leurs jours j aulrs qui tant de mal sueffi'ent pour escheuer
la mort t estre allegiez de telz tormens se mettent a si
excessives finances que eulx ne leurs amis jamaiz ne les
pourroyent payer j aussi quant par non povoir faillent de
payer aux jours que ont assignez p constrainte 1 force de
gehme vos diz subgiez par derrision les mennet en lieux
publiques It par les rues devant le peuple ou les mar-
tirisent It tuent inhumainemet j lequelz quant se voyent
si agrevez T: pres [de] mort pour ensuiv la foy Xpienne
J: en bon estat de leurs consciences partir de ceste
monde j desirent avoir \ demadent leurs sacremens j par
vosdiz subgiez leur sont deniez ^ et aceulx qui tneuret
reffusee la ^upulture de rre saintte qui est cruieuse
chose a oir enr Xpiens j aulrs selons quavons sceu ya
qui a jamais sont impotens % par estroiz enferremens *\
prison ont les membres pourris j ce que ne Iroit ainsi fait
de Sarrasins a Xpiens encor ce nous fait penser que
pleuseurs y sont qui par «stroitte prison ne pueulet pdeca
J44S.] 22 HENRY VL 15
denucier leur misere j dont avons si grande compassion
alfcFe>[noz3 cuers que plus ne pourrionsy meismemet de
oir que telles gens qui ne pcurent quelque mal a vosdiz
subgiez soyent par eulx \ soubz couleur de la dte paix
ain^ murdrez t tiraiiisez j laquelle paix c5me seble de
prime face iceulx voz subgiez ont pmise seulement a
leur avantage pour aulrs decepvoir j lesquelles choses nre
dit souvain seigneur pres tant de plaintes a cy devant
endurees cuidant tous les jours que y pourveissies ne
aussi encor ne povons croire que soyent ftes de vre assent
temet ne quen ayez congnoissance j car trop seroyent a
vre desh5neur si les congnoissies t tantost ny pour-
?eyes de remede «r Aussi sanz esclande \ p^judice de
nre d sourain It de cest [dit] royaume ne les pourrions
plus endurer ne telles inhumanitez sanz offense envs iSre
Cateur laissier passer soubz dissimulacon j veu q le sang
des offensez cdtinuelmet nous admonestr 1 crie sanz
cesser aps nous vengence sur vosdiz subgiez qui telles
ihumanitez leur font \ surceulx qui les sueffirent. Pource
liault \ puissant Prince pour la part de Hre dit souvain }
V0U8 requerons \ prions rsactes de nre part que inc5tinet
par Garretier Roy Darmes porteur de cestes nous vueillies
^tiffier si lesdtes choses ont este ou sont ftes de \re ^ceu
1 assent j et si non j que en toute celerite le veuellies
monstrer par lappaissemet de ceux depdeca \ de vosdiz
subgiez et tellemen/ vous plaise y brdonner que telz inc5-
venienc cessent en mani7e que Dieu It nre dit souvain en
doyent mte%\ nous par raison en doyons estre contens j X
vre dicte response sur ce nous vueillies faire si briefve
ijue dicelle puissions appaisier ceulx tie cest royaume ou
icelle oye ordonner selon que Dieux nous conseillera.
Nous faites pareillemet savoir voz bona vouloirs \ plaisir^
desquelz accomplir ferons nre povoir j prions au Benoit
filz de Dieu hault He* quU yous doint bonne vie 1 longue
16 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1443.
t tousjours soit garde de vous. Escript a Westmonsr
soubz noz signez le second jour de Decembre.
A hault It puissant prince Les gens du coseU du Roy
le Due de Bretaigne. nre souvain seignr estans en
son royaume Dengleterre.
^
[Bibl. Cotton. Julius, B« vi. f. 48. Original,
Minutes of the Council, 12th December, 23 Hen.VI. 144S. All the
interlineations and additions, as well as the King's answers, are in the
writing of the Clerk of the Council.]
The xij. day of Bangor at pe Blak
F . . . pnt my Lordf
• • •
Cantbury Hunl
Garderob Staff
Moleyns Sudeley.
Yif it like unto the Kyng j it is thought unto my lordes
of his counsail^ that considered the neigbnesse of blod
that my Lord Sir Giles of Bretaigne atteignetb unto the
Kyng and )>at in his tend? age he hath be brought up
with hym ^ and the disposicon that ev he hath hadde
and yit hath, to that that hath been or myght in any wise
be to the Kynges worship honeur and proffit and of his
reaumes and subgittf ^ and also that he is comen unto
the King for to see his noble estat [and to pfr him h'
^ce J] that therfore the Kyng of his good wille j graunte
yerely unto my said Lord Sir Giles by his Ires patentes
undf his grete seal v m^ marc of pension ^ to be taken at
the receite of his eschequier at the termes qf Estre and
of Saint Michel by even porcons.^
1 A pension of 2,000 nobles per annum was granted to Giles of
Brittany on the 12th December 141S. VSde Foederai vol. xit p. 4$.
144S.] 22 HENRY VI. I7
Also yif it like unto J?e Kyng j it is J?ouglit unto my
sai3 lordes j that hou be it that of Jje g*unte that the
Kyng hath maad unto him of m^ marc j the ende of
this terme wol not finisshe unto Candelmesse next
comyng^ that for asmuche as he is now on his
goyngy that he have his paiement for this terme now
in hande.
The K' wol Also yif it like unto the Kyng,/ it is J?ought unto
coDoe^of ™y ^^^ lordf that he have of the Kyngf gyft now at
idiiLcmarS his goyngy a coppe of golden and suche a s5me of
\. monnoie as shal like unto the K*.
pjinne.
The K* wol Also yif it shal like unto the King j it is thought
y he We ^jjj.^ jjjy g^^ 2^^^^ ^Ij^j. j^ieyn Lawe oon of the Dukf
cscutf ambassadeurs of Bretaigne have a coppe of silver over
l^^yp® J* * 8^' ^^ *^^ price of xx. marc and a piece of damask.
^'^^^^ Also yif it like unto the Kyng y it is thought unto
my saide lordf of his counsail j that as touching the firste
article that the Due of Bretaigne hath writen to my
Lord" Sir Giles j for to desire and shewe hem unto the
Kyng as touching that he myght be a mediatour in the
matier of peas 1c. That it be answered unto the said
[Lord] Sir Giles on the K* behalf ./ that )?o Kyng wol
that in tho manior and [writen er
befor v^. upoii }?e which wol
abyde.]
that he herbefore hath writen unto the said
Due . . . this behalf that he be comprehended 1c. *
And ther as the Due of Bretaigne by the secound
article of the said articles complaigneth him on my Lord
of So^ 1c. Yif it like unto the Kyng y it is thought
1 See this letter in p, 20, postea,
VOL. VJ. C
18 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1445,
unto my lordf of his couDsail j that a Ire ' be directed
unto my said Lord of Soms and that yl be enclosed
piinne the said secound article j and )?at the Kyng wol
and comaundeth straitely my said Lord of Soms that yif
it be soo as mencon is maad in the said article j that is to
say J that he have doon in Bretaigne any attemptat con-
trarie to )>e peas finalle [or appointementz betwix )>e K'
reaumes t h" lordshipes] j that thenne he doo make and
make be maad pi of restituSon and reformacon y soo that
noo ferther inconvenience falle thorough his defaulte in
this behalf^ that God defende. And that furthermore
from hens forthwarde he absteigne hym to doo any-
thing pie unto the hurte and prejudice of the said peas
[or appointementz] as that he wol eschue thinconveniencf
J>at pJupoSi wolde ensue and folowe.
And ^ forasmoche as )?* )>e Due of Bretaigne wrote ]>ees
matiers unto my "Lord i Gilles h* bropi j Y J^®'* answers
be yeven to my said Lord i Gilles and y he acertaine h*
bro}?3 of }?e K* answer to he.
llbid. f.48b. ISth December, 22 Hen.VI. 144S.]
The xiij. day of Decembr J>e xxij. yer 1c. in J>e
Bisshopf Chambr of Bangor at J>e Blafe Freres^ being
psent my Lord of Gloucestr my Lord Chanceller my
Lord of Hunl my Lord Sudeley Garderober 1 Maistx
W" of ^^^^ Moleyns.
consail. Maistr Adam Moleyns Y w* all )?e matterf above
writen was yesterday w* J>e K* reported unto my said
lorde fro J?e K^ that )?e K* J?anked J>eim of )>eir labourf
I See the letter to the Duke of Somerset in a subsequent page.
3 This and the following Minutes of the 13th and 14th December
were added in the hand of the Clerk of the Council.
1443.] 22 HENRY VI. 19
and helde ]>eir advisementf good and c5mandeth J^eim to
be don.
Also )>e Warderober )?at was send to my Lord the
Cardinal w^ alt ]>abovesaid matierf reported unto my
said lordf )>^ hi semed J^e said advisementz goode.
♦f.50b. • Chanceltr Warderob M* Ada Moleyns.
Also it the Kyng by )7advis of his my Lord
h' Chauncelter of England that he tres undr
h' gret seal of licence y by ]>e whict .... psones late
Ivantz to )>e Cardinal of Lexenbrougti '\jc. may passe
l>e see w* iij^. marc over ij*'. li. y pei have of pe Kyngf
gift.
ISrid. f. 50 b. 14th December, 22 Hen.VL 1443.]
The xiiij. day of Decebr \>e xxij. yer in J>e same place j
pnt my Lordf
of Canrbury chancefl^r Glouc
]fe Warderob Hunl
M* Adam Moleyns Staff
Sudeley.
Be pi maad a tre to ]>e Due of Bretaigne as touching
ye matier of J>e pees after )?answerf late gyveil to pe
Dukf ambassadeurs of Bretagne.*
K be pi maad a tre upon J>e complainte of € Gilles of
firetaigne unto my Lord of Soms.^
> Vide the next page. > Vide p. 22^ poisecu
C 2
20 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [HiS^
[Bibl. Cotton. Julius, B. vi. f. 52. contemporary MS.
Letter from the King to the Duke of Brittany, dated 17th December,
22 Hen.VL 1443. Ftcfe pp. 11 and 19, on&o.]
Depar le Roy.
Tresch*r \ tresame cousin ^ Depuis que nre trescBir
1 ame cousin Gilles vre fre est venu pardeca devs nous v
il nous a par diverses foiz declaire la pfait desir q avez
de vous emploier au bn du paix genial entx nous \ nre
adversaire de Fraunce^ duquel vre noble It effectueux
vouloir nous vous mcions du bon du cueur tant q plus
povons J car en ce monde riens plus volenlrs ne verrions
fors que icelle paix y puyst estre fermee^ Et pour ce
nre tresctir 1 tresame cousin desirous que vous 1 toutes
autrs princes Catholiques aiez cognoissan et toudiz en
vre bon memoire coment feu fire trescBir seigne*^ \ pere
le Roy qui Deux absoille tout son vivant poursuy le bn
de la dte paix de toute sa puissan j et nous depuis en
ensuiant ses traches avons continuelmt durant fire temps
fait samblablemt j car toutesfoiz q [par] fire dit adversair
ou par autxs icelle matiJe nous a este ouvte nous y avons
entendu efFcuelmt en envoiant par plufs foiz et en divs
lieux grans seigne'^s tresprochains de fire sang et aurs
notables homes de fire conseil de div's estas garniz de
povoir souflBsant po' y besoigfir 1 conclure en fire nom j
non mye sanz fire bn grosse despense ne sans grans
travaulx peines \ laboures de noz ditz parens vassaulx
officrs "X serviteurs j et na pas tenu a fire part que
japieca la chose nait prins bonne fin. Ce non obstant
nous voulons tousjours perseveramnt continuer en fire
ppos davantdit j tant pour reverence de Dieu le tout
puissant fire Benoit Createur vray prince \ directo' du
paix J coe pour eviter leffusiofi du sang humain j ensamble
es perilz des almes du peuple Xpien avec les autres in
I443.J 22 HENRY VI. 21
conveniens qui de plus en plus acroissent "X multiplient a
cause de la longue continuacion des dolereuses guerres j
somes It #rons tous temps ainsi q prince Catholique doit
estre^ pretz "X apparaillez de entendre au bien de lad
paix par tous bons t raisonnables moiens j It frons tsjoieux
1 contens q besoigniez t c5me mediate' vous emploie:":
au bien delad paix j sans toutesvoies en forclore ou
debouter autrs qui par cy devant se sont offers ou qui
cj a^s se poroient ofirir devers nous a eulx j emploier j
toutesvoies se aucunes ouvtures en sont ou estoient
fiiictes devers vous depar partie advse j Nous vous prions
rscbr 1 tresame cousin q tous temps en bonne diligence
les nous vouilliez signifier come en vous avons parfaicte
confidence^ car encores depnt nous sommes tout con-
duz ^ deliberez denvoier bn prochainement en Fran
noz notables ambassadeurs pour le fait de la dte paix v
lesquelez vous purront plus aulong declairer laffecion
t parfait vouloir que avons au bn dicelle^ et se la
divine mificorde veult estendr sa grace que paix y puist
estre trouvee y nous ferons que y serez comprins par
bons 1 honnorables termes. Treschr It tresame cousin
se aucune chose vous plaist que puissons signifiez le
nous 1 nous lacomplirons du bon du cuer tresvolenlrs.
Ce scet le Benoit Filiz de Dieu qui vous doint sante t
joy avec tout complissement de voz nobles desirs. Donne
soubz nre signet en nre manoir a Shene le xvij. jo^ de
Decembr Ian xxij'^. de noz regnes.
A nre treschr It tresame cousin
le Due de Bretaigne.
}
C 3
22 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1445.
[Bibl. Cotton. Julius, B. vi. f. 50. conitemporary MS.
Letter from the King to the Duke of Somerset, lieutenant and captaio
general of France, respecting the affairs of Brittany, dated 17th De-
cember, 22 Hen.VL 1443. Vide pp. 12 and 19, ontei.]
Depar le Roy.
Tresch'r \ tresame cousin j De la partie de fire tscfer
\ rsame cousin le Due de Bretaigne nous a este nagairs
expose par iire tresclir \ ame cousin Gilles son fre^
coment nonobstant la paix final a la quelle fired cousin
le Due veult adherer j et nonobstans aussi certains ap-
pointems par nous faiz avecques lui pour entretenir paix
amour 1 tranquillitee enr noz re™*^" pais \ seigneuries
tant dune parte q dautre j lesquelz semblemt ycellui nre
cousin de Brel de son coste desir garder et observier
sicome il dit j vous a g^t puissance de gens de guerre
estez entre en son pais de Bretaigne It y avez fait
maulx txsgrans conr la tenur de la paix et des ap-
pointemes dev*ntdtes 4 en enfreinnant yceulx directemt j
ainsi que plus aplaine est declaire en certain article a
nous sur ce bailiee par esc^pt^ de quel vous envoions
la copie enclose en ces pntz j lesquelles choses se ainsi
estoient j serroient a nre bn g^nt desplaisance ^ car ceste
nre entencon 1 volente que la paix 1 noz appointemtz
av*ntd soient entiermt gardez T: observez sans enfraindr j
8i vous tnandons \ le plus estroitemt q povons vous en-
joignons par ces pntz q tantot ces Tres veuz j vous repares
"X amendez \ fees reparer \ amender reaulmt \ de fait
toutz les faultes inconvenietz 1 domages que par vous
ou voz gens sont ou auroient estee faiz es pais \ f^ies
de iired cousin le Due de Bre^ It ou prejudice de ses
obeissans subgiez countr la tenur de la paix "X des ap-
pointemetz des# deelarez./ Et aveeqs ce gardez sur tant
q povez mesprandr envs nous j que par vous ne par les
I44S.3 22 HENRY VI. 23
vrez doresenavant ne soient faiz tielx ou semblez exploiz j
dont lesdiz appoiDtementz pourroient estre enfrainz j
car inconvenientz innumablez £roient taillez den ensuier
ou p^udice de la chose publique q Dieu ne veulle j Et
ce faitez en tielle manier q nred cousin de Brel ne autr
nait cause den faire plantes devers nous. Donn soubz
nre signet en nre manoir a Shene le xvij. jour de
Decembr Ian xxij^. de noz reignes.
A fire tresc&r 1 tresame cousin le Due de Somerset
nre lieuten 1 capitain genial en iire reaume de
Fraunce.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. vi. f. 420. Original.
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 13th December, 22 Hen. VI
1448.]
R. H. '.
The Kyng wol y for suet secreet charge as )?* he wol
y my Lord of Shrowesbury doo in haste v })* )>e Tresorer 1
Chamblains upon such jewelx 1 goodf of y Kyngf as
y })eim shal seme good j chevysshe ]>e s5me of ij m^ marc
\ deliv'e it unto my said Lord of Shrowesbury j and J>*
herupoS the Keper of his pVe seal do make his tres
undr y same seal to )>e Trei 1 Chambt in due fourme.
Dated at the manoir of Shene xiij'^. December xxij. Henry the
sixte.2
1 The King's autograph.
2 In a modem hand, and probably from the indorsement, the article
being pasted in the volume.
C 4
24 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1444-
[Additional MS. 4609. art. 47- a modern Tranter^
Proceeding of the Council, 26th January, 22 Hen.VI. 1444.]
Jt ^ as Tresorer et Chamberleins T:c. saluz j Nous
volons de ladvis de iiotre counsail et vous mandons que
a notre treschier et bien ame Nichol Husey esquier
liquel Dous envoions presentemeut en notre message en
Bretaigne en la compaigne de notre treschier et ame
cousin Giles de Bretaigne vous faces paier de notre
tresore vynt et cinque marcz avoir de notre regard pour
son dit alee et aussi pour son retour devers nous sur la
dit message. Don Ic.
{In dorso.) xx^j'". die Januar anno 1c. xxij****. in Camera
Stellal apud Westm Rex de avisamento consilii sui
mandavit Custodi privati sigilli sui fieri facere litteras
sub eodem sigillo secundum tenorem superius annotatum^
praesentibus Archiepiscopo Cantuar cancellar Anglian
Comite Suff Dominis de Cromewei} Sudeley thes et
de Dudley ac Mi^ro Adam Molejrns.
Benet.
llbid. art. 46.
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 1st February, 22 Hen.VI. 1444.]
To the Kyng our souverain lord.
R« H.
Sheweth unto youre highnesse youre humble chap-
pellain Thomas bisshop of Bath ^ keper of youre prive
seal that for as moche as late ago it liked your said
highnesse to commande him with other to go in your
ambassad into youre duchie of Guyenne j for the whiche
cause yere bene due unto him ciiij"ix. M. as more
Thomas fieckington. The Journal of his Embassy to the Count
of Armagniac in 1442 has been published, (8vo, 1828.)
!♦*♦.] 22 HENRY VI. 25
plainely it appereth in your escbequier in his accompt
made upon the same j he can as yit have no paiement
nor assignement j to his grete hurt in yat partie. Please
it uDto your noble grace to give in commaundement by
your graceux letters under youre prive seal unto ye
Chamberlein of North Wales yat nowe is or for ye tyme
shall be ^ to make redy paiement unto your chapellain
aforesaid of ciiij"ix. li. due unto him for the cause
abovesaid of ye issues prouffitz and revenues comyng
of Northwales ^ any act ordenaunce restreint commaun-
dement or assignement made or to be made to ye con-
traire notw*standyng ^ youre said Chamberlein recy vyng
towards him letters of acquittance suffisant in yis partie
by ye which and by youre said letters under your prive
seal he may have due allouance in his accompt.
Lettre ent feust faite a Westm le primer jour de
Feverer Ian 'Ic. xxij.
\IiM. art. 43.
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 8th February, 22 Hen.VI. 1444.]
To the King my soverain lord.
Sheweth unto your highnesse your subgett and uncle
Humfray due of Gloucestre j where that the King your
fadre whom God assoille y by his lettres patentes bering
date the xxiij*. day of June the yere of his reigne the
fourth ^ graunted to your said oncle the constablerie of the
castell of Dovorre and of the keping of the v. portes j to
be hadde fro the xiij**^. day of Octobre thanne last past
for terme of your said uncles life as hit is conteyned
more playn in the said letLres patentes.^ and how that
afore this gift and graunt hit was do to understande to
26 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1444.
the King your said fadre that there were many defaltes
as well in the houses walles enbatellings church steple
wyndowes glasse and other biddings within the said
castell J as of vestements bokys and ornamentys of the
church there ^ and alsoe of arms armatures bowes arrowes
arblasters quarrells and other artilleries within the said
castell beyng^ for the which as well the Kyng your fader
the vj*^. day of Novembre the vij**^. yere of his reigne by
his Ires patentes j as ye my soveraine lord by your Ires
paten tes the xxij*^, day of May the thirde yere of your
reigne^ ordayned your sayd uncle to surveye all such
defaltes and theym by the oversight and witnesse of his
beloved squyer Geffrey Louther and Symon Spencer
parson of the chirche of the said castle or to toon of hem
for tyme to come j as hit shold be necessarie j to repaire
and amende all thing and as hit is specifyed in the said
lettres patentes.
Please your highnesse to consider these premisses and
to graunte your lettres sufficiantz undre your prive seal
direct to your Tresorer and Barons of your escheq' com-
maunding hem to accompte with your said uncle or with
a persone covenable in his name by the othe of that
oon or of that othir j of all costes and expenses which
your said uncle by the vieue and witnesse aforesaid hath
doon about the reparation and amendement^ aswell of
the clocke of all the tyme that your said uncle hath be
constable there of the said castell j as of the defaltes and
things abovesaid ^ makeing him due allowance by the said
othe of all things specifyed in the said last tres patentes
of the said xxij. day of May the said thridde yere of your
seid reigne into this day^ and that the said Tresorer
and Barons the which beth now or which for the
time shall be j by vertue and force of your said lettres
[1444. 22 HENRY VI. 27
of your privy seal may have playn power and auctorite
fro tyme to tyme and fro year to year during the life of
jour said uncle by the vieu and witness aforesaid or of
hem that for the tyme shall be thereto ordeyned and
depute y to accompte with your said uncle of the said pre-
misses in fourme aforesaid^ they yeving due allowance
thereof to your seid uncle as hit is afore specifyed and
after that hit hath be used and accustumed of old tyme ^
without any other suit theryn and for that cause to be
made unto your highness by your said uncle in tyme
commyng j eny act ordenance constitution provision or
statute of laborers and contrary thereof made notwyth-
standing.
Apud Shene viij®, Febr anno 1c. xxij^
Aiidrewe.
{In dorso.) To the Keper of our Privy Seal,
lUrid. art 45.
ProceediDg of the Council^ 27th February, 22 Hen.VI. 1444.]
^ J to ye Tresorer and Chamberleyns \c. greting j
For asmoche as at oure desire oure rizt trusty and wel-
beloved cousin th'Erle of Shrowesbury hath graunted
at y* tyme to do us service of werr w* a certain retenue
in oure reaume of Fraunce and duchee of Normandie
for an half yere j so yt he myzt be paied of us in hande
of ij™. marc of ye x™l li. the whiche herebefore we by
oure oyer letters under oure prive seel have yeve you
in commaundement to make hym yerof assignement ^
And we considering ye good wille y^ oure said cousin
hath at y* tyme to do us service of werf j wol yerfor and
28 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [im.
charge you y* of ye said x"*. li. ye do paie unto him now
in hande ij"^. marc. Yeven Ttc.
{In darso.) Rex apud manerium suum de Shene xxvij. die
Februarii anno 1c. xxij**®, mandavit Custodi privati
sigilli sui fieri facere litteras sub eodem sigillo Theset
Camerariis secundum tenorem superius annotatum ^ pne-
senl Domino Archiepiscopo Cantuarien Rado Domino
de Sudeley txei Angliae ac Magistro Adam Moleyns
custode privati sigilli tc
Benet
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, P. v. f. 112. Original Minutes.
Minutes of Council, 3rd March, 22 Hen. VI. 1443.]
The iiij. day of March J>e xxij. yer 1c. in \>e SterreS
Chabr at Westm j pnt
My Lordf of Canrbury \>e Clerk of J>e Rolles
'pe Bisshop of f Assapli The Tref.
pe Warderober
Pr to pe Chaunceller Ic. gretyng ^ Forasmoche as in
p* our grete necessitee pe moost worshipful fadr in God
our grete uncle pe Cardinal of England hath graunted
to lene unto us pe some of ij*^. marc [unto pe feste of
Seint Martin in wynter next comyng] upon pe seuretee
[for h* repaiemet ]/? of] of ij. ptes of our riche coler [ye
which for J)* cause we have maad be deliv^ed unto hij j
we wol pifor by l>advis of our counsail \ charge you J>*
unto pe said most worshipful fadr in God ye do make
our tres patentf for J^engaging of pe said ij. ptes as
1 This Minute is printed in the Foedera, vol. xi. p. 55, from the
original writ in the Pell Office. See also Foedera, vol. xi. pp. 42, 56.
KM] 22 HENRY VL 29
have b» [wer late] maad unto hi in cas semlble for lenyng
[uDto us] v^. li. of monoie 1 receiving our jowoUoo plfo?
horhcFor [J>Jfor 'pe iij^. pte of 'pe same jewel.]
Canibuiy Be tho Mair and a warrant to 'pe Tref 1 ChamM Ic.
^^ to deliv^e to Henri [of] Conyngham of ScoUand for pe
£ Wee J>* he shal do unto pe K' x. li. by wey of reward,
M'*' to make warrant unto pe Chanceller of Engt to
make Rogger Faukenberge sherrief of Lincoliishir for
y yer j and for to receive h* ooth a dedim^ potestatem
be maad to { Th Comberwortb knyzt
[Additional MS. 4600. art. 44v a modem Tramer^.
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 18th March, 22 Hen.VL 1444.]
To ye King oure souverain lord.
Plese it unto youre moost noble grace to graunt your
letters under youre privie seel to be directed to S' Robert
Monter clerc of your hamper after th'effect and tenour
of a ceduUe to this bill annexed y and that for God and by
way of charite.
R. H.
Henry by ye grace of God T:c. j to our trusty and wel-
beloved S' Robert Monter clerc of oure hamper greting j
We wol and charge you that ye deliver unto oure wel-
beloved the Provost and soolers of oure College of Oure
Lady and Saint Nicholas nowe late founded by us in
oure Universite of Cambrigg or to her deputees or
attournez j alle ye letters patentz seeled or to be seeled
under oure greet seel and writtes nowe being or to
be in your keping in oure said hamper from tyme to
30 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL., [1444-5.
tyrae j which patentz and writtes conceme or shall
concerne oure said college in eny wise j and yat frely
w*oute fyne or fee grete or small or eny other thing to
be had or asked for ye said patentz and writtes j whereof
we wol that yees oure letters be unto you suffisant war-
rant and discharge. Yeven \c.
Lettre ent feust fte a Westm le xviij. jour de Mars
Ian Ttc. xxij^^
Acta de Anno Vicesimo tertio.
[Additional MS. 4609* art. 74. a modern Tramcripi.
Proceeding of the Council, 14th January, 2S Hen. VI. 1445.3
R au Chaunceller saluz j Come nous de lavis de notre
counsail eons donnez et grauntez conge et licence et par
cestes presentes donons et grauntons conge et licence a
noz bien amez Christopfer de Poges et Austin de la
Robbe merchantz de Jene et au Petr de Saint John
burgez de Bruges en Flandres et a chescun de eux^
qils purront fair estre amesnez et conduittz a eux et a
chescun de eux en yceste notre royaume d'Engleterre
deux grandez tables des diamandes et deux meindres
et iiij, graund rubies et iiij. saphirs et dousze perles^
pur mesmes les diamandes rubies saphirs et perles sils
puissent vendr en yceste notre royaume j et si elles ne
soient venduz qalors bien lirra a eux de les .envoir
hors diceste notre royaume vers queux parties que lour
plerra j saunz paier a nous ou a notre oeps aucune cus-
tume subside ou devoir a nous due pur lappoitee dicelles
piers en notre dit roiaume ou pur lenvoie hors dicelle v
et saunz disturbance ou empechement de nous noz
officers et ministres. Pui-veu toutesvoies que si mesmes
1445.] 23 HENRY VI. 31
les pieiTS soient venduz en ceste notre roiaume d'En-
gleterre que nous soions bien et loialment paiez et
responduz des custumes subside et devoirs en ceste
partie duez j et que a la primer apporte dicelles pierres
CD yceste notre royaume elles soient venez et de- Sic.
stniiees par noz officers j et en cas quelles soient rap-
portees hors de mesme notre royaume qelles soient
aussi rendres et destruiees par noz officers j si mandons
que sur ce vous facez fair noz lettres patentes dessoubz
notre graund seal en due fourme adurers par deux ans
prochein avenier. Donne T:c.
(In darso,) The xiiij. day of Januer the xxiij^yere 1c in the
Sterre Chambf at Westm the King by th'advis of his
counsail comaunded ye Keper of his prive seel to do
make letters undre ye same seal after ye tenure withinne
writen ^ present my Lords the Chaunceller and Tre-
sorer of England the Viscount Beaumont the Prive Seal
and opu
T. Kent
llbid. art 90.
Petition to the Eling, with the Answer, Slat January, 23 Hen. VI. 144i5.]
To the King our soveraign lord.
Sheweth unto your byghness youre pouer chapeleyn
Willyam Cleve clerk of your werks that late of newe
hath made by your commaundment at your Tour of
London a kecben with al other maner of offices with
loggings thereto belonging and a new draght bryggey
and as yit receyved never in money xl. S.j and now
late there is appoynted by your counsail to make in all
hast possible for the plesir of your highness and neces-
sarie resort of straungers to come in likely hast to your
manoir of Eltham j for a new halle with squiilery saucery
and survey ng place j al of newe and reformacon honour
32 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1445-
able for the Queens loggyng thereas j now desolated j and
at Shene the waterbrigge the grete quadrangle with a
yatehouse all of new to be made for necessary logging
of your worshipfuU household with closer of brike toured
aboute your gardein there ^ and at Westm the Grete
Chamboure for your graciouse persone and the Quenes
logging with the Parlement Chambre and Peynted
Chambre with reformation of your condwyts there and
ordinance for the scafiald to be made in Westm Chirche
for the estate of the coronation ^ please it therefore
your highnesse to commaunde your Tresorer to deliver
onward for purvyance and hasty expedition of the neces-
sitees forsaide unto your said clerk good assignment of
a m^ ti« 4 to be received of the first payment of the dismes
granted unto your highness by the clergy j and he thereof
to answer you in his account byfore your barons in your
eschekir^ consideryng that the said Willyam hath and
most payne hym for to purvey money the mene v^ marc
or more to pay wekely pouer workemen laborers stuflT
and cariage to Goddys plesir and profit as hit shall
appere by Gods grace for Gods love and for pite of your
said places.
Lre ent feust fait a Westm le xxxj. jour de Januer Ian
\c. vynt et tierce.
\md. art. 76.
Proceeding of the Council, 1st February, 28 Hen. VI. 144^. Vide
Rot. Pari. vol. v. pp. 73, 74 ; Foedera, vol. xi. p. 53.]
The first day of Feverer the xxiij. yere 1tc.y to the
King in his Secree Chambre at Westm 4 being psent my
Lord of Gloucestre and my Lordes the Cardinal of Yorke
Tharchbisshop of Caunterbury the Due of Excestre the
Bisshops of Saint Assaph Norwich Saresbury and of
1M50 23 HENRY VI. 33
BasLtti prive seal and the Marqueis of Dors Therle of
Stafibrd the Lords Cromwell Sudeley tresorer and Dud-
ley S' John Stourton kn* and Maister Adam Moleyns
dean de Saresbury^ my Lord of Suff sayde in maner as
foUoweth.
Sir yif it like unto your highnesse I suppose that ye
have in good remembraunce hou that I have hadde grete
knowleche amonges the parties of your adversaires in
France as in being prisonni amonges theim and have
hadde long conversacon w* the Due of Orleaunce at all
such times as that I was his keep j for the which causes
saving thoffence of yo' highness j me semeth it not
according that I be send now in thambassade that is
spoken of to goo into Fraunce^ and specially for the
nominacon that your adversairs amonges others made of
me for to be sent and come in the said ambassade j and
therefore as humbly as I can and may I beseche your
said highnesse that some other persone such as shall like
unto you may be sent in the said ambassade and that it
like your said highness to hold me excused thereof^ Be-
seching you that ye wol at all times have such conceit of
me that I ne can nother never shall eulogne nother
strange me in this said ambassade nother in any other
thing from thaccomplissement of your heigh commaund-
mentj hou be it that as I am enfourmed langaige is sowen
upon me in London of thees consideracons before re-
hersed sith my going is opened among the people. And on
the other side I have seye that Iprdes of grete auctoritee
and estat have laboured by your heigh commaundment
and desire in semble ambassade for the wele of peas j the
which with grete wysdames and providence executed as
treuly as thei coude or might the charge to theim leid in
semble wise as it is now leyde upon me j the which knowe
my selfe full fer from their conduycts and circuinspectons j
VOL. VI. D
34 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1445.
and for all that yit nevertheless the people of the land
have noysed hem and God knoweth in parlem*' and elles
where full hewyly to their gret charge and burdon in all 4
in all that that in theim was j the which and they so dyd
of me it were to hevy to me to here seyng their estatz
and thestat that I am of.
To the which my said Lord of Suf f my L** Chaunceller
by the Kings high commaundm^ and desire and at the
desire of all the other lords before writen ^ said that the
King willed and desired him to goe in the said ambassade
and that such charge as that he wold ley upon him that
he receive it take it and execute it j and than my said
Lord of Suff besought the Kings highnesse that sith it
luste him not to have hym discharged of the said ambas-
sade but fynally to commaund hym to goe thereinne j that
seyng the grete weight of the said matier of ambassade
he might be accompaigned with sad and circumspect
men for the good of the said matier and with such as
can wol and may here with him for the Kings worship j so
that the partie advse may se that though ye send at this
time but men of esye degree and few in nombre yit that
thei have discretion convenable with theim for such
matiers as thei be send for j that he putting him in his
devoir in the said matier of ambassade though that the
matier achieve not j that God forbid j in such wise as is
desired and trusted that it shall j that therefore noe charge
be laid upon him nother that he therefore ronne into any
daunger or hevynesse of the King nor on any other
behalfe nor wise j but that he may stand alway in the
Kings good conceit and grace. Whereupon the King
advised by my lords of his councill aboveseid com-
maunded my Lord Chauncell' to say on his behalfe to
my said Lord of Suff ^z that he putting him in his devoir
in the said matier of ambassade as he trusteth that he
1445.] 23 HENRY VI. 35
j
wol y though that the matier achieve not j that God for-
bidde j in such wise as is desired and trusted that it shall j
that therefore no charge be leyd by him his heires coun-
cell" oflBc" nor noon of his people upon my said Lord of
Suff his heires nor execut'* in tyme commyng j nay upon i
any persone goeing in the said ambassade j nether that
therefore he renne into any daunger or hevynesse of hym
nor on any other behalfe nor wyse j and wol that in this i
behalf stand in his good conceit and grace. And further-
more the King willed him and commaunded such charge |
as he wold lay upon him that he shold receive it take it
and execute it. And my said Lord of Suff thanked the
King on this behalfe and said he would obeie his com*
maundment j desiring of his highnesse that hereupon he
might have his gracious Tres patents .^ the which the
King graunted unto him and commaunded the Keeper
of his prive seal to do make warrant undre the same seal
unto the Chauncell'' of England commaunding him to do
make be maad hereupon his tres patents undre his grete
seal in due fourme.
Benet.
llbid, art. 100.
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 3rd February, 23 Hen. VI. 1445.]
To the King our soverain lord.
Bysecheth louly youre humble and pouer servant
Richard Jordan keper of your selers within your castle of
Wyndsore./ at the manoir in the pare at Esthampted^ and
at Henley on the Heth •/ that in consideracon of the long
and continuel labours and grete attendaunces that he hath
hadde yerely and daily in keping of your seid celers j
hit please you in his age to graunt unto him a livere of
mete and drink to be taken in your worshipfull houshold
dailli at suche tyme as ye or your household shall lye
P 2
38 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, I:i44s5.
[Ibid, art. 79.
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 14th March, 23 Hen. VI. 14?4^.
Sir Andrew Ogard, the petitioner, was naturalized by parliament in
1433. Vide Rot. Pari. vol. iv. p. 439.]
To the Kyng oure souverain lord.
Besecheth mekely youre humble liege Andrew Ogard
knight J that where as by succession yere is fallen unto
him in ye reaume of Denmark where he is born and in
oyere places of ye King of Denmarks obeissance j certaine
lifloode and landes and oyer goods meubles ^ plese hit
your highnesse to shewe unto youre saide liege y* he may
have knowlache yf it bee ye good plesour of your ex-
cellence y* he joysse ye saide enherytance and oyer goods
and yeruppon send into the said reaume of Denmark and
oyer places his procurours for him w* sufBsant pour to
obteine possession and joyssance of the said enheritance
and oyer goods and to doo the services and duetez re-
quired yerupon j after ye lawes of ye cuntrees j whiche
ying how be hit ye saide Kinge of Denmark is of your
alliance j yit ye saide besecher wol not in noo wise at-
tempte nor doo hit withouten your gracius licence in yat
partie. Wherfore youre saide liege besecheth lowly youre
noble grace y* hit plese youre highnesse to commande
youre letters undre youre prive seel directed to youre
Chanceller of Englande commandyng to seel and doo
make out your letters under your greet seel of licence to ye
sayde besecher for ye matier above rehersed j and he shall
pray to God for your moost excellent estat and welfare*
{In dorso.) In palatio suo Westm xiiij. die Marcii anno 1c»
xxiij. Rex concessit banc supplicationem ut petitur
mandavitq, Custodi privati sigilli sui fieri mandare
litteras sub eodem sigillo 1c. j prsesentibus Dominis
Cancelt Thes Episcopo Bathon.
T. Kent.
1445.] 23 HENRY VI. 39
lllnd. art. 89.
Ph>ceeding of the Council, 25th May, 23 Hen. VI. 1445.]
Hbnri Ic. to the Tresorer and Charaberleins of oure
eschequier greting j For as moche as we have bought of
y'executours of the Lord Fanhop late passed to God
ij. nouches which draw to v. c. and xl. li. we wol yerfore
by yadvis of oure counsail and charge you yat unto ye
saide executour ye make aggrement and contenting of
the some of v. c. xL li. above saide. And furthermore for
divers causes moevyng us j we wol by yadvis abovesaid
and charge you yat unto oure welbeloved squier John
Merston tresorer of oure chambr and keper of oure
Jewell ye deliver ye saide nouches. Morover that ye
content th* Abbot of Seint Albons of c. li. for cercle of
X. ouches of golde sette with greet perle baleys and
saphurs which was leyde to him and opl to wed • . . and
deliver ye same cercle to oure saide squier. Over this we
wol also yat unto ye same oure squier ye deliver a Jorge
which was late bought of Will Estfelde knyght. Yeven
1c. at WesUn ye xxv. day of May the yere 1c. xxiij.
Apud Westm in Camera Consilii tempore parUamenti
die et anno suprascripZ Rex de avisamento consilii sui
mandavit Custodi privati sigilli sui fieri mandare litteras
sub eodem sigillo secundum formam superius annotal 4
praesentibus Dominis Cane Thes Cardinal Ebor Epis
Norwic Elien Ducibus Exon Buck Cromwell tc.
T. Kent.
D 4
40 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1^*6
Acta de Anno Vicesimo quarto.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, £. iii. f. 90 a. eantemporary MS.
Letter from the King to John Bredon, a priest at Coventry, dated
14th March, 24 Hen. VI. 1446. This and the two following articles
occur on the same paper.]
Trusty and welbeloved^/ For asmuche as ye knowe
wel we were late enfourmed that ye shuld have now
late openly preched and affermed ctain opinions in our
citee of Coventr sownyng ayenst both Godf lawe and
ourf J by the pching of pe which opinions ye ded J)at
J>at in you was to have stured and moeved \>e people of
our said citee other wise J>an wel j wherof might have
growe inconveniencf j which we willing to avoide j wol
and charge you streitely J^at anon af r ^e sight of J^ees j
att excusacons ceesing j ye departe oute of our said citee
of Coventr and goo to J>e Ministr Provincial of your order
or to his vicar j and be ruled and demened as we write
unto hun in )>is behalf. And we wol )>at ye leve not J^is
on pe feith and ligeance J^at ye owe unto us and as
ye wol eschue our grevous indignacon. Yeven tc. at
Westm ]>e xiiij. day of March J>e xxiiij. yer 1c.
To Frer Jotn Bredon frer mino
of the covent of Coventre.
'}
J^IbieL Letter from the King to the Minister Provincial of the Friars
Minors in England, respecting John Bredon, a member of that
fraternity, 14th March, 24 Hen. VI. 1446.]
By ^e King.
Trusty and welbeloved j For asmuch as we wer late
enformed tat Frer John Bredon frer minour in J?e
convent of our cite of Coventr shuld have now late
[openly] pched and affermed ctain opinions in our said
citee sownyng agenst both Godf lawe and ourf./ by
1446.] 24 HENRY VI- 41
^ pchiDg and affirmacon of 'pe which opinions he deed
]nt yat in him was to have stured and moeved pe people
of our said cite other wise 'pen wel and agenst pe laudable
custumes herebefore had and used in our cathedral
chirch pie ^ pe which in p^ p2Lt in us is we wol and owe
to manteine and susteine for asmuch as [we J beth ))eir
sovain lord and patroil and for asmuch as we wold have
aUe our subgittes to lyve in rest and pees afr Godf lawe
and ourf and no ))ing to be shewed or pched unto ]>eim
but ])at ]>at might sowne to good and be to reste and
wele of our people. And also for asmuch as pe said Frer
Jofin hath openly pched as it is abovesaid^ we wol pjfore
and charge you straitely J?at aRoon aft pe sight of }?ees j
alt ofl ]>ingf left and excusacons ceesing^ ye remoeve pe
said Frer John from pe said convent of our said cite of
Coventr unto som op? convet of your ordr xl. or 1. mile
pens or more j and J^at ye charge him from hens forward
not to come at our said cite ne to pche of pe said
opinions in any place. And we wol J^at in no wise ye
leva ]ns as ye wol eschue our grevouse indignacon.
Yeveii ^c. ut sup\
To Frer Thomas Radnor ministr pvincial of pe Frer
Menores in ]7is our reaume of England or to his
vicair having power in his absence.
[Ibid. Letter from the King to the Mayor, bailifiis, and inhabitants of
Coventry, respecting John Bredon, the priest mentioned in the pre-
ceding documents, dated 14th March, 24* Hen. VI. 1446.]
By the King.
Trusty and welbeloved^ For asmuch as we wer late
enfourmed J>at Frer John Bredon frer menour in pe
convent of our cite of Coventr shuld have now late
pched and afFermed ctaine opinions in our said citee
42 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1446.
sownyng agenst both Godf lawe and ours j wherof we
beth evel cotente yif it be so 4 of J?e which opinions J«
said Frer hath pmissed and is sworen to make revocacon
[and renunciacon] aft ]7e tenur of a cedule endentyd
tripartite y )?e on remaynyng toward us in J?e of&ce of
our prive seaL the other toward ]7e said Priour and [J>e]
convent of ]7e same place 4 and })e J?rid towardf J?e said
Frer of ]7e which we send [youj a copie closed withinne
J?ese by our welbeloved fvant Ric George sergeant of
armes it is conteigned more at large. And for asmoch
as it is gretely nedeful and spedefull for })e good of alt
holy chirche us and our people revocacon of all unlawful
opinions be shewed Jjer and unto such psones as J>ey have
be pched unto herebefore^ the said Frer hatt pJfore
in c5maundement of us by J?advys of J?e lordf sperituel
and terapell in l)is oure psent plement to go to our said
cite and ]>ere openly to sey in Jje pulpit in ]7e parish
chirches of our said citee ori day festival or ij. J>e next
festival dayes J>at he fshalj come to our said citee
before alt J>e people J?en being in J?e same j aft )>e tyme
of })e offering accustumed p? y so J>at J?ey may here hit at
J?e tyme of ]>e higfi masse in ]>e same chircli^ alt ]?at J>at
is conteigned in J>e same cedule and neip? more neip?
lasses and yif J?at he do it not or refuse it to do or
wold say o]>? more or lasse or eny J?ing J>at migM
tourne to J?e comocon of our people J?at ]>en ye Mayre
comitte him [J^erfore] to p*son^ J??e to abyde unto }>e
tyme J?at we geve you other in cdmaundement 4 and J>atye
our said Mair 8tifie us in alle goodly haste what J?at ye
do hereinne j and we wol J>at in no wise ye leve }ris.
Yeven tc. ut sup*.
To }>e Mair bailiffs and worthy men
of our cite of Coventr.
1446.3 24 HENRY VI. ' 43
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, £• iii. f.9L apparently the Original.
Statement of John Bredon, a friar minor of Coventry. No date occurs
to this article, but it evidently relates to the affair noticed in the
preceding letters.]
Hit is not unknowen that where the Priour &nd covent
of the chirche cathedral of Oure Lady Seynt Marye of
this citee of Coventre psoas and pprietaries of the parissb
chirches of the same and their predecessours have had
posseded and used to have as in right of the said chirche
of ty me that no mynde of man is the contrarye j that
what psone dye witl&in this said citee suburbes and
hamelettes of the same j hath beeii first brougM to the
said cathedral chirche witb apparaille of wex y there to
abide tylle the masse and othir observance to Cristen
people pteynyng be complete and had j the corps therof
then to be beryed outher at the same cathedral chirche
or elles at oon of the parisshchirches or chircheyarde
where the psone of the deed corps was convsaunt j or
there where in his lif he chase his sepulture^ the said
apparaille of wex remaynyng witb the said cathedral
chirche to the use of the same j whicl& title and possession
is good als welle by the lawe spuaB as by the lawe
temporal j I Frere Jotln Bredofi frere minour of the
covente of the same citee in the tyme of the Holy Ad-
vent of Oure Lorde last passed^ in the parisshchirches
of this same citee j ayens the said custom and title as
oure sov^ain lorde the Kyng and the lordes spuatt and
temporal been acerted^ oponly preched and afiermed
that alle mani offerynges oweii to be yeveii alonely to
theyme that mynistreii the sacramentes to the pisshens v
also that neither the Pope ne alle the worlde may
V
14 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [l^MS.
compelle eny man to offerr eny thing in the said
cathedral chirche j also that neither the Pope ne alle
the worlde may make but that a fre man in his last
wille may dispose the lightes pteynyng to his corps
where soever he wille j and so that I inducyng the
pjsshens of the said parisshchirches to execute my
purpose bad that they shulde boldely here the ligbtes
of the corpses fro that tyme forward to their parissh-
chirche or whither they elles wolde j notwithstondyng
eny contrarie use j pmittyng my self to defende theyme
that so didi/ seiyng that in Englond was not so bonde
a citee as this citee of Coventre is in kepyng and
observyng the said custom and promittyng my self to
make this same citee free v so that the said Priour and
cSvente shuld not prevaile to have the said custom j
which sayng might cause the people to turne their hertys
fro the said Priour and cSvente and fro observyng the
said lawfuH custom ^ and also that I said that in Englond
was not so covettous a place as was the priorye of
Coventre y also that I impugnyng the said custom by
anothir unlawful meaK said and affermed that eny cus-
tom howe long so ev hit be thowe hit be of a c, yeres j
if hit be in pjudice of coe wele it is unlawfully and that
the said custom is in p|judice of coe good because hit
is pljudicial to the parisshchirches of Holy Trinite and
Seynt MichelJ of Coventre j and therfbre that hit is un-
lawfull J also that I seid that alonely they that mynistren
the sacramentes and mynistren aboute the corpses as
vicairs and parissbprestes shuld have the obvenciones and
profites of the corpses and not the monke of the priorye
whicb may not mynistre the sacramentes j also that I
in my billes that I made to be set upon the chirche
dores in this said citee promysed to delyv^ the people of
1*46.] 24 HENRY VI. 45
this same citee fro the thraldom of Pharao v the whict
sownyth ayenst the said cathedral chirche and the
laufuB custom of the same. In alle thise premisses by
the lordes spualt and temporal by the c5maundement
of oure said sovain lorde the Kyng duely examyned is
founden matier upon the whicR miglit sue grete incon-
veniences ayens the lawes of God of the chirche and of
oure said sovain lorde j and also pjudicialt to the said
Priour and covent j wherfore I the same frere if I
meynteyne or justifie the said unlaufult opynions or any
of theyme or who so ev soo doo been worthy to be sore
punysshed and chastised by the lawe of the chirche j and
therfore as ferre as I have suche mattiers or opynions
affermed preched or taught I the same frere revoke and
renounce theyme and yche of theyme y prayng and ex-
hortyng you that yee gif neither faithe ne credence to
theyme ne execute theyme in eny wise. Wherfore I
nowe wele avysed and moeved therto in conscience ex-
horte and pray you to kepe and observe the said laudable
custom in puttyng away and eschewyng hurt and offence
of conscience and also avoydyng punyssbment due to
alle theyme that doon contrarye to the same custoin for
als muche as hit is a custume c5mendable and so owyng
to be kept and observed to encrese of mede by pleasire
made to Almighty God who graunte you and me to
lif in this worlde aftir juste lawes and laufult customs
vertuously 4 soo that we may deserve to rejoyse h evenly
recompense evlastyngly 4 Amen.
46 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [144^.
[BibK Cotton. Cleopatra, F. vi. f. 303. cantemparafy MS. on parchment '
probably the OrigindL
Instructions issued to the Commissioners appointed to borrow money
in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Herts, dated
20th July, g^th Hen. VI. 1446.]
Credence cSmitted by the King our souvain lord unto
his trusty and welbeloved Whalesby
Gilbt Parr and to either of J?eim for to shewe
and declar on his behalf to such psones spueS
and tempell dwelling within ]?e shirf of Norff
Suff Essex Hertford as ]?eim seme good for
monney to be had and lent to ^e King.
First the said comissioners after due greting shal ley
afore hem Jje good inclinacon ]>at J>e Kingf uncle of
Fraunce hath to J?e pees as it apperett by writing
sending of ambassadeurs and otherwise j ]7e which pees
also }?e King Rtely desireth for ]>e wele ]>at shal enseue
Iplot to his reaumes and subgittf and to alle Xpendoai
in eschewing ]>e incoveniencf Jjat might folow of J?e con-
trarie j J>e costes also chargf and expenses by his subgittf
and people of long tyme borri by cause of werr and J>at
sholde of necessite be borri yif it shuld continue j that
God forbede.
For the which pees not only by the King and his
said uncle but also by al Cristendome gretly desired^
both the King and his said uncle be condescended and
appointed to psonel convencon in the reaume of
Fraunce where for the said cause the King hath pro-
mitted and wol be in psone by the grace of God in
Octobre next c5myng ^ soo that it shal not stande by
hym nor by the labour of his owne psone j the which his
hieghnesse spareth not j but by Goddf grace the said
pees shal be had and concluded.
1446.] 24 HENRY VL 47
For the whicl& his going the King knowet^ wel that
their gret wisdomes and discrecons canne and may wel
conceyve that it wol be unto hym right chargefuff and
also to the lordf of his blode and other whic& ben ap-
pointed to goo with hym j not only in levyng of their
wagf but also in jubardie of their psones more precious
than any good ^ and yit neyther witft this nether with
the tresore that he hath in hande the King is furnesshed
nor purveied of good soufficient for such charg^' as in th
said viage for pees he most necessarely here. And ther-
fore the said c5missaires shal entrete the bisshopps and
al thabbottf priours denes archidaikones and thrifty
persones in the shirf of Norff Suff Essex and Hertford
and desire of hem that they wol paye their hoole disme
nowe in hande graunted in the last c5vocacon ^ and yif
thay wol not [do] soo^ then they shal entrete hem to paye
nowe in hande the oon half of the said disme 4 and yif
thay wol not do that ^ J'an the said c5missaires shal en-
trete hem to lene such good as that they shal mowe
goodly gete of hem uppon assignement of their owne
dismes.
And in semhle wise the said c5missaires shal entrete
a9 the good citees towneshipps knyghtf squiers and
thrifty men dwelling withinne the abovesaid shires to
lene asmoch money as thay shal mowe goodely geete of
hem J taking for their suretee of repaiement J??of good and
soufficeant assignement of tho last pts of th3 quinsiame
-and disme grauntod in tho lact plomcnt such grauntes
as have be maad unto \q Kyng in ]>e last plement
or ro^ve except ]>e first pt of ]>e said . grauntes paiable
at Martynmasse next comyng.
And U^fore] the King trusting in the kindenesse of
his trewe lovyng and welewilling subgittf whom he hath
48 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1446.
founde redy at al tymes in al his necessitees j desiretb
and p^'yeth therfore hertely the said psones spuettf and
tempefff and evict of theim as they love and tendre the
good of the sayd pees and the worship welfare and
suretee of his psone and also of his landf lordshipps and
subgittf J that they wol shew unto him in this his grettest
necessitees their affeccon and good good wille j the said
psones spueH in payeng nowe in hand their disraes or
lenyng as above j and the said psones tempeB in easing
him by way of appst undre soufficeant assignement as
above of sucfi somes as shal be desired of evict! of theim
by the said comissioners j wherein they shal do the King
singler plesire where thorugh the King wol can theim
right good thanke and shewe unto theim his gracious
favoures in such thingf as they shal have to dooii witt
him in tyrae to come j and that the said some of monoye
evict of theim wol send it into the receite of [thej Kingf
eschequier by such a psone or psones as he trustetb on
in all goodly haste j and at the ferrest by the morowe of
the fest of Saint Michel next comyng^ there for to deliv^e
it to the Tresorer of England or to such psone or psones
as he wol depute to receyve it j taking at that tyme for
their repaiement therof y sufficeant assignement by auc-
torite of parlement of suet grauntf as have be maad unto
hym nowe in the last parlement as above.
And the King wol and chargett the said c5missaires
that such s5mes of monoy as [shal] in this behalf be paied
and borowed j that they make therof a bylle endented
betwix theim and the paier and lener ^ in the whict shaL
be specified the s5me that shal be paied and lened and
the day whan it shal be brought into the Kingf re-
ceyte j and that suet billes be sent into the said receite
at the lest before the said fest of Saint Michel next
comyng.
1446.] 24 HENRY VI. 4,9
And forasmoc!i as the King is not fully enfourmed
whicfi of his subgittf may paye and lene as above j the
King sendetti therfore unto his said cdmissaires tres undre
his prive seal after the tenur hereto annexed with blanc
tailless the which tres the King wol that they directe hem
to such psones citees and towneshipps as that theim shal
seme good j and write in the tailles of the same tres the
names of the persones that they shal be directed unto j
and so delive hem to the said persones.
A^ xxiiij*^ H. vj«.
[A separate article from the preceding ; but it may originally have
been written on the same parchment. Writ to the persons to whom
the said Commissioners were to apply. 3
Teusty and welbeloved 4 Forasmuch as in ctaine ma-
tiers that gretely touchin and concerneii J?e good wele
and worship of us our landf lordships and subgittf we
have willed our c5missaires berers herof to comune w*
you J we wol desir and pray you therfore htely J?at in
such Jnngf as J?at J?ey or any of ]7eim wol shewe declar
and sey unto you on our behalf ye wol yeve unto hem
and to ech of hem ful feith and credence 4 and we pray
you )?at ye leve not Jris as ye wol ]7e good wele and
worship above saide. Ye veil under our prive seal at
Westm }>e xx. day of Juyl. A*' 1c. xxiiij*^
VOL. VI. E
50 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1446.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. v. f. 123. Original Minutes.
Minutes of the Council, . . . July, 24 Hen. VI. 1446.]
M'^ y^ ]>e Mair T; aldremen of London complaigne he
upoii pe grete imposicons y beth putte nf on ))e poeple of
London )>* is to sey.
Up of! [by] pe wolle pakkers J>* take [ferme y office
for] xlviij. ti. by yer.
Upon [by] J?e ganger ]?* taketl^ iiij. d. for J?e gauging
of evy ton It many op? 1c.
Upon [by ]7e] wyn drawers.
Upon [by] J^occupacon of garbeling j the which
stS^ [abovesaid* psones] ferme ]7eir officf to men of
litell haveour 1 valeur to J>e grete charge of ]>e poeple
\ hurto to
Sir John Also pei seyeii }>* at Blanke Chapelton pi is maad
Steward to^ pkef [sev^aU placf] to pleye at J?e fee»ey8-balle ^ at pe
cleche j at J?e dys ./ 1 also J?I is used ]73e as is [used]
at J?e stewes betwix men 1 w5raeii ./ and also y pei use
courtf 1c. \ seintwarye into ]>e hurte T: pjudice of J?e citee.
Also J?ei in Seint Martyns wol not soufFr \>e strang?s in
Seint Martyns to paie \>e imposicons y )>ei sholde paie by
auctoritee of parlemet.
Also J?ei ssy complaigne of a man of Bredstret y was
take into J?e Towr as y he walked on J>e warf ]7?e j and
on y was not worth iiij. d. ^ntred a plain te upofi hi of
iiij®. marc j so y but yif he had be plegged oute pe
hastier it [1 delived oute of p*sone] by J?e mene of my
Lord of Glouc j it [had] be lyke J?' he shold have be
condempned in iiJj^ marc by pe artifiSs dwelling in pe
Towre.
Comisf of pees ( Jofen Steward Lokwode
MortiiSs bille.
14460 24 HENRY VI. 51
• ^' 126. * )?Q convonoon []>e K'] to be bctwix fat] Maunt [T:
his uncle at] Melant at po K* comyng at a day to ];&
KMxeyiftj at pe K' arrivaitt to sende h* ambassadeurs
to mete w^ )>oinbaa9adouro of h' undo at a [h* uncle
for )i» |>ei to appointe J?e day of pe con-
vencon \ pe place.
Uvisa-
Dtntu dn(
In cas -^ JSr* of J?e prorogacon from aff Halowentyde
unto Marcty the K' wol be ]^e to holde an incon-
vencon betwix Maunt It Melant [on J?e river] at such
day 1; place as shal be appointed j wherfor anofi J?e K*
upon h* arrivailt vA wol sende to h^ said uncle h'' am-
bassadeurs.
• f. 126 b- • The Kyng wol y h" Ires undr his pVe seal be directed
to i Th Stanley to carie 1 do to be caried by land 1 by
water Eiianer Cobham * in ]7isle of Man j and pie y he
rule her as he hatli yeve him in c5mandemet.
K he wol J>* aJt )>oo psones ]?* had wagf fees or officf
for rme of lyf of J>e graunte of })e Due of Warrewyk ]?*
ded is J y J>ei have Ires of confirmacon plof undr his gret
seal during J?e meindr age of Anne douzter 1 heir to J>e
said Due.
II he wol y my Lord of Chichestr kep of his pVe seal
1 |>e Barori of Dudley whom he sendeth now in h" am-
bassade into Fraunce unto h' uncle of Fraunce have
wagf according to }>eir estatf for iij. monethes ^ to be
paied of such monoies as remaigne in J?e Clerc of pe
Hanapes handf for po dolivanof of h* receitf in J?e hanapie
by force \ vertue of his office.
I On the 26th October, 22 Hen. VI. 1443, she was ordered to be
conveyed from the castle of Chester to Kenilworth. Vide Foedera,
vol. xi. p. 45.
E 2
\
52 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [144^
n he wol }>* i RicR Wydeville whom he hatfi sende in
h" message ij. tymes to Caleys \ hatli retourned! ayen to
him have by wey of reward c. ti. for h* laboures costf \
expen ^ 1 J)* on alt]7e above J^ingf tres undr h' p've seal be
maad in due fourme.
• • . • T: )?!upoS a tro to f Tlk of -Stanloo of my
Lord of Warp of )roim y haft Sine of lyf wogf for iiji
monothoBs — Rio Widoyillo ij. at Caloya.
llbid. f. 127. 19th July. 24 Hen. VI. 1446.]
The xix. day of Juyl J>e xxiiij. yer 1c. at Westm in J?e
Sterr Chamber.
The Cai-di- I* is advised Y Miohel by my Lordf ]7e Chaunceller \
nal of York; guff \ Pye Seal Y Michel de Parys I>e K* secretarie shal
Chkhestf'^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^' being her seth Cristemasse \ for h" going hom
now in ]7e Kyngf message 1. marc.
llbid. 20th July, 24 Hen.VI. 1446.]
The XX. day
£jjQj Be })? maad Ires directed to M* Robt Monter clerc
Cant of J>e hanap to paie to J?e Bisshop of Chichestr kep of Jtc
Chichestf. pi^g gg^i c^ ^Q j^Ym lord Dud
pdons usq, xv*. Martini j Blassevile xl. marc v xxxiij. tL
♦ f. 127 b. * My lordf counsail of York j y is to sey ^ Scales
* Oldehall
It is answered to he Y )?e K* entent Y ™y Lord of
YorK have cc. speres w* J?e bowes 1 to endente at Michel-
masse 1 have paiement in hande for iij. monethes^ "X afP
Y from moneth to monetR Y is to sey for J>e saj<f
iVj. monethes after J?e wagf of England \ for ]>e second
1446.] 24 HENRY VI. 53
quart after \>e wagf of Fraunce v and y retenue to be
redy warnyng ]?* shal be maad to my said Lord.
Hou many shippf shal be ordeined for J?e K' goyng.
And ayenst what tyme.
And wheder J>ei shal come.
M^* y shippf be put undr arrest for ]>e K' goyng j
and y it be writen to my Lord Tref to wite of ^e K*
hou many j wheder )>ei shal come j and ayenst what
tyme.
My Lord of Chichestr 1 J)e Lord Dudley J)e K' am-
bassadeurs shal have J>eir wagf for iij. monethes j by way
of reward .; 1 xx. ti. for J?eir shipping.
Thinstruccon was rad 1 passed.
Thombft Gartier to go w' J^embassadeurs "l a p'^suy-
vant.
Thambassadeurs shal have fres w* he to ]>e K* uncle
1 [to] dpi T; also }>* J?ei have Ires of famuliaritee to aff ]>e
cappitaignes in Nor^®.
XX. }L for shipping.
1 128. * Gartier shal have for ]?* goyng as he had last and
Coler shal have x. marc as he hath had befor.
The bisshopf T: abbotf [p'ourf archedeaknes] to be
treted to paie \>e dismes befor j and J)* ]fei in semble wyse
trete J?eir clergie and [vj. iiy..] ctain men to be deputed
}>^to .; 1 also to make chevissance j 'X p her up on and to
make tho ass assignement of \>e second graunte in ]>e
plement j and her- for y to be don p] most be conceived
a good instruccon to J?e vj. psones.
K my Lord Chauncettr seide to J>erle of Ormond J?at
]>e Kyng had comaunded Tt charged him to comaunde J^e
E 3
51 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1446.
same [Erie] after ]>e teno^ of a cedule whcrof J>* J>e K*
sende unto hi^ wherof J>e teneur is such as folowett
[and so he charged J?e same Erie.]
M^' y J?erle of Ormond be comaunded upon peine of
his h'geance and forfaitur of alt yat he may forfaite to )>e
Kyng J y he passe not xl. myles aboute London j but yif
it be to J?e pilgrimages of Caunrbury j til he have
opiwyse in comandement of \>e Kyng j and to be redy to
answer afor J?e Kyng and his counsail by due 1 resonable
warnyng^ the which comandement J?e said Erie seyde
y he wolde obeie ^ 1 so he swor it j and p'yed my lordf
of J?e Kyngf cosail to have it exemplified undr h" pVe
seal J the which was granted to him.
A gtestacon of my Lord PVe Seal ^Gismi [instruct] for
Wfc.
* f. 128 b. * Also my Lord P*ve Seal asked J?e Sherriefs of London
y now be j yif y J?ei asked any scuage of )>e Janneys but
for y yer.
And pei said nay.
He asked he also <» what as ]>ei supposed was due unto
he for \>e tyme Y J?ei had be sherriefs j and ]>ei seyde pei
knewe not for ctain.
llbid. f. 129. 22Dd July, 24 Hen.VI. 1446.]
The xxij. day of Jul at my Lord Card placf of York ^
it was comanded by him J?e M'ques of Dors \ pe Fve Seal
y Michel ds Parys secretair shold have of reward for h*
going now w* J>embassedeurs x. marc.
144^6.] 25 HENRY VI. 05
Acta de Anno Vicesimo quinto.
[Bibl. Cotton. Titus, C. i. f. 230. OrigindL
Writ to the Keeper of the privy seal, 19th October, 25 Hen.VI. 1446.
The appeal to which this and some of the following articles relate is
thus noticed in Stow's Chronicle by Howes, p. 385: '< John David
appeached his master William Catur, an armurer dwelling in
S. Duustons parish in Fleet Street, of treason, and a day being
assigned them to fight in Smithfield, the master being welbeloved,
was so cherished by his friends, and plied so with wine, that being
therewith overcome was also unluckily slain by his servant ; but that
false servant (for he falsely accused his master) lived not long
unpunished, for he was after hanged at Tyborne for felony." See
also Fabian's Chronicle, edition 1811, p. 618; and Hall's Chronicle,
edition 1809, p. 207.]
By the King.
Reverend fader in God rigbt trusty and welbeloved .;
For asmoche as John Davy hath nowe late appelled
before the Constable and Marschal of this oure reaume
of Englande oon William Catour of London armurer of
traison ymagyned \ doon by hym ayeinst oure persone j
for which cause the said Constable and Marschal have
by thassent of bothe parties assigned a day of bataille
unto theyro as lawe wol j we therfore wol and charge
you that under our prive seel being in yo^ warde ye do
make oure Ires of warrant in deue fo^me directed unto
oure welbeloved squier John Stanley sergeant of our
armuryy charging hym to do make and ordeigne in al
goodly haste good and souffisant armure for the said
appellant and al other barneys and wapen necessary unto
hym in that behalve. And over this we wol that under
our said pVe seel ye do make oure other Ires sev^elles in
deue fo*^me directed unto f John Steward f John Astley
knightf Edmond Hampden and Thomas Montgomory
squiers and to Thomas Parker armurer^ to be intendant
E 4
56 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1446.
and of conseil with the said appellants and semblable
Ires unto f Thomas Gray i Robert Shotesbroke knyglitf
John Lovett T; John Sharppe squiers It to Harman
armurer dwelling in Southwerk j to be intendant and of
conseil with the said partie defendant as the cas re-
quireth,/ and thees oure tres shal be your warrant. Yeven
under our signet at our castel of Wyndesore the xix. day
of Octobr the yere of our regne xxv.
W. Crosby.
[Bib]. Cotton. Titus, C. i. f.23]. OrigitwL
Letter from the King to Philip Trefaer, fishmonger, of London, dated
16th November, 25 Hen.VL 1446.]
By the Kyng.
Trusty and welbeloved j For asmocb as Jolin Davy
hatfe nowe late appelled before pe Conestable and
Marshall: of pis our reaume oon Willia Catour of Lon-
don armurer^ of treson ymagined and doon ayenste
oure psone^ for whiche cause J>e said Conestable and
Marshall have by J^assent of bothe pties assigned unto
]?eira a day of bataylle as lawe wol j we plfore wol and
charge you J?at ^e be intendaunt and of counsailt witli
J)e said John Davy appellant./ and ]>ees our Ires shalt
be youre warrant. Yeven at Westm J?e xvj. day of No-
vembr.
To Phelip fysshemonger.
{In dorso.) xvj. day of Nov .... 1c, xxv^°. it was ....
Ye lordes of J?e c . . . tres shulde be dir Philip
fysshemon to entende and .... wi]> Johan
Davy after ))e forme . • . . writeS.
1446.] 25 HENRY VI. 57
[Bibl. Cotton. Titus, C. i. f. 231. Original.
Letter from the King to Master Hugh Payne and John Latimer,
14th December, 25 Hen.VI. 1446.]
By the Kyng.
Trusty and welbeloved j For asmoche as John Davy
hat& no we late appeled before ]>e Conestable and Mar-
shal of this oure reaume of Englande oon William
Catouf of London armurer^ of treson ymagined and
doon ayenste oure psone j for whiche cause pe said Con-
stable and Marshalt have by })assent of bothe pties
assigned unto ])eim a day of bataylt as lawe wol^ we
wol ])]fore and charge you ])at ye be inten daunt and
of counsaiK with pe said William Catour defendant as pe
cas requireth j and J)ees our Ires shal be your warrant.
Yeven at Westm pe xiiij. day of Decembr.
To MaisP Hugh Payne.
To John Latemer.
(In dorso.) xiiij®. day of . . . anno 1c. xxv*®. it was
lordes of pe counsail .... se^alles shulde be .
persones
[Bibl. Cotton. Titus, C i. f. 231. Original draught.
Letter from the King to the Earl of Ormond, about November or
December, 25 Hen.VI. 14-46. ** Thomaa Fitz Thomas, prior of
Kilmaincy appeached Sir James Butler earl of Ormond of treasons,
which had a day assigned to fight in Sraithfield ; the lists were
made, and the field prepared ; but when it came to the point, the
King commanded they should not fight, and took the quarrel into
his hands, which was done at the instance of certain preachers and
doctors of London, as Master Gilbert Worthington, parson of
St. Andrews in Holborn, and other." Stow's Chronicle by Howes,
p. 385, and Fabian's Chronicle edition 1811, p. 618.]
By pe Kyng.
Truhty and welbolovcd j For as moche as we have un-
derstande et' [on] your behalf that it were right necessary
58 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1446-
for you -by- befor the day of ye«¥ [4b«- yo'] bataile to be
hadde in Smythefeld to be for a certaine tyme negt to
the said Smythefeld for youre brething &£- [and] more
ease ayenst the said day,/ we wol and lycence you
zo to bo- by thees our tres so to be [undr the charge 1
goevnance of our rizt trusty and rizt welbeloved cousin
]>e Due of Excestr constable of our Tour of London]
latyng you wite that by our other tres undre our prive
seel [we] have yeve in comawndemt to our rigtit trusty
end rigT.t wolbelovc^ [said] cousyn the Due of Excofetr
constabiG of our Towro of Londc:: to m- delivere you out
of the said Towr and make you be brought to sucli a
place negh the said Smythefeld as ye shal be and abyde
per inne [undf h^ charge 1 govcnGnco] unto J>e tyme
of the said bataile.
To the Erie of Ormond.
[Bibl. CottOD. Titus, C. i. f. 231. Original draught.
Letter from the King to the Duke of Exeter ; about November or
December, 25 Hen.VI. 1446. See the preceding article.]
Righ't trusty and right welbeloved cousyn j fW
ec:riueh& %c. ut £up* We by our other Ires undre our
prive seel write unto the Erie of Ormond in manie [as]
f&t foloweth J Trusty Ife [Forasmuche "tc] j wherfor we
wol and by J>ees our Ires yeve you licence power and
auctorite to dclivo out of our said! that byfor ij. dayes
befor pe day of bataille or at eny tyme withinne -fttt
that the seid Erie wol desire his going out of the said
Towr to any place negh Smythefeld fro whens he
wo come to pe said bataile:' that ye make him surely
and safiy be brought therto j and ther [undr yo' warde
\ goevnance] to be saufly and surely kept by you and at
1446.] 25 HENRY VI. 59
undre your keping and by you and yourye charge be
brought to Smythefeld unto )70 tymo at J)e tyme of pe
said bataille.
To \>e Due of Excestr.
[Bibl. Cotton. Titus, C. i. f. 231. Origifud.
Writ to the Keeper of the privy seal, dated 28th December, 25 Hen.VL
1446. Vide the preceding articles.]
By the King.
R£\r£R£ND fader in God right trusty and welbeloved j
For asmoch as we in consideracion of thattendance and
labours that oure welbeloved Philip Treher fyshmonger
hath had by oure spal comandement j aswel in teching
certain pointf of armis unto the Priour of Kilmayn
which late appelled J)erl of Ormond of [hault] treason as
in teching and counselling JoRn Davy which late hath
appeled oon Jotin Catour armorer of treason also .; have
yeven unto hym xx. li. by weye of reward to be taken
by the handes of oure Tresorer of England j we wol and
charge you J?at under our pVe seel being in your warde
ye do make oure Ires directed unto our said Tresorer
and the Chamberlayns of our eschequier^ comanding
them to paye unto ]>e said Philip pe said xx. ti. by
weye of rewarde in redy money or ellis to yeve him
suffisant assignement of the same^ and peese our Ires
shal be your warrant. Yeven under our signet at oure
castel of Wyndesore the xxviij. day of Decembre pe
yere of oure regne xxv*
Blakeney.
60 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1447-
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. v. f. 132. OriginaL
Minutes of the Council, 19th March, 25 Hen. VI. 1447.]
R. H>.
The Kyrjg wolt J>at Ires be writen to ]>e Kyng of
Scottf rehercyng ]>e attemptatf ayenst J>e trieues^ re-
quiryng him to kepe the saide trieues j and if he or his
p^tende hem grieved y that comissairs be deputed of
both ]>e parties for reformacon of attemptatf .
Hm J>at tres be writen to ]>e Con^^** T: ottr havyng
places in Wales J>' J?ey see to J?e savegard of J?e saide
places as ]>ey woU answere to ]>e K\
Km )?at Ires be writen to J>e Cap'^*' of Berwyk }>at he
in his own psone go J?idre for ]>e savegarde of J?e saide
place J and op?e Ires to ]>e souldeours pie to be here in
Estre rme next comyng j at which tyme pey shall have
an answere upon sucb thingf as pey assk as by reason
]>ey shaH hold hem content,
Hm where as ]>e citee of Bourdeaulx prayetli pe K'
to yeve his consent to J>elect chosen by ]>e c5vent of
J>abbey of Seynt Croix in Bourdeaulx ^ J?e Kyng is
content w' J>is eleccon 1 cdmaundeth y- )??upon Ires be
writen to )?e citee of Bourdeaulx 1 ^e saide convent j
1 also ottr Ires to our holy fadre )?e Pope to confirme pe
saide eleccon T: to revoke aH j^at hatR be done in pro-
vidyng of )>e saide monasterie to any ofie psone.
Km ]>e Kyng woH }>at J?e lordes of his consail \ suet
othr as shall be thought gode to my Lorde Chanc be
writen to j to be her in ]>e begynyg of J?e next rme 1
at such tyme as }>ambassato's of )?e K' uncle shall be
here.
1 The King s autograph.
IW.] 25 HENRY VI. (Jl
I!m the K* woH that ]>e feliship of Hanze of Almayne
have a safegarde for iij. yere next comyng j so J>at ]>ey
be not vexed by vertue of any Ire of marque graunted
or to be graunted •/ but J)at J>ey may resorte into J>is
lande freely w* J)eir mchandises j paiyng J^eir custumes It
devoirs.
Km ]>e K* wolt J?at Colyer [p'f ] have by weye of re-
ward X. mark 1 ]>e Due of Orliaunce poursyvaunt c. s.
Itm to a Fraunchman late sent from pe Kyngf uncle
ye which come to ]>e K* to Bury c. skutf by wey of
reward.
And pe Kyng wolt )?at )?articles abovesaide be ex-
tended in ample 1 large fo'me as it shall be thought
necessair .; with clauses accustumed 1 behovefuK .; and
this cedule be suffisant warrant to pe Keper of his
pryve seal.
Km where a comissioii was made to certaine psones
for repoisage of wott at ]>e staple of Caleys^ pe Kyng
wott pat it be revoked It Ires to be writen to )?e feliship
of pe saide staple to ])eir cdforth j and ^ ]7is article be
extended as above.
R. H.»
Apud Westm xix°. Marcii a? xxv***.
' The King's autograph.
62 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL. [1448.
Acta de Anno Vicesimo septtmo.
[Additional MS. 4610. art. 7* a modern Tran9cript.
Answer of the King and the Council to certain articles delivered by
Garter King of Arms on behalf of the Duke of Somerset, lieutenant
general of France, 30th October, 27 Hen.VI. 1448.]
Here followen thanswers unto tharticles which Gartier
King of Armes declared by way of credence unto the
King our soveraign lord and my lords of his counsail j on
the behalfe of the high and mighty prince my lord the
Duk of Somerset the King's lieutenant generall of his
reaume of France and duches of Normandy and Guyenne
and other my lords the King's ambassat" now being in
thoo parties.
FuRST forasmoche as it hath ben accustumed in other
instructions the commissarys to use tharticles of thair
instructions in such ordre as it seemed them moost ex-
pedient J that it like the King to declare what his am-
bassatours shal doe at this time.
Answer. Forasntoch as the said ambassatours may
perceive know and understand many things there such
as be not in the knowledge of the King nor of my lords
of his counsail j and by the things conceive what ordre
shall be thought to them is moost covenable and ex-
pedient to be observed and kept for the good of the
principal matiere in uttring of thoo things that ben
conteigned in the articles of thair instruction j the
King wol that in uttering of the said things thay kepe
such ordre as shall be thought to thair discretions moost
expedient.
1448.] 27 HENRY VI. 63
Item how men shall demene thaim anenst the com-
missaries of Bretaigne sithen they wol not intend but in
compaigny of the Kings uncle.
Answere. It is thought to the King by thadvis of
his councel that in this matiere consideration is to be
had to the othes made by the Duke of Bretaigne that
dede is j by his brethern j his soones j and by the barons
and notable persones of his duchie to the Kingj as it
appereth ty thaire lettres patentes^ the which shall be
redy to be shewed when ever the case shall require it:'
from thefiect of which tres nor of the bond growne to
the King therby in their persones it nis not the Kings
intent in any wise to departe or* doe any thing that may
be pjudiciall thereto. And forasmoche in eschewing of
any such ^udice and also in eschewing of any open
troubling of the tretee to be had betwix thambassatours
of both partys at this time j it semeth that the Kings
ambassatours shall mowe desire to have speche apart
w*** such as shall be sent thider from the Duk of
Bretaigne and lay the said things before thaim and
thereupon ground a request according to reson in
this matiere j and in especialle require of theim that if
thai wol be psent in the said tretee thay be there as
partie with the King and as the same othes and tres
made by thaim ask and require j and thain if so be they
wol in noe wise entend to this request but wol algates
desire to be present in the tretee as with and for that
other partie ^ the said ambassatours shall rather than the
principall tretee shall be letted j use and make such pro-
testation or protestations as shall be thought to thair
discretions covenable and behovefull to eschew by any
prejudice that shold mowe growe in this matiere to
the King by thaire said presences.
64 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [U4«.
Item as to tharticle to keep the raatiere from rupture j
how and by what mean the said ambassatours shall
mowe soe do.
Answeue. How be it that the said ambassat" after
communication had with thambassat'* of that other partie
shall mowe better feel how the principal matier shall
mowe be kept out of rupture than it is possible to the
King and my lordes here to feele j nevertheless it is
thought to the King and his counsail here that among
other meens that shall mowe serve to keep the matiere
out of rupture j oon might be to entend to prorogation
of thaire assamble to as long a day and tyme as shal
mowe be accorded between thaim j under the which
prorogacon thambassat'^ of either party shal mowe resort
agen to their princes and make report unto thaim of com-
munications had betwix the said ambassato" and of the
difficultees that they feel in the matiers j the which time
hanging j either of the princes shall mowe if it like them
send to other for easing of the said difficultees or sum
other good and godly wayes be found by the which
the matiere shall be kept in good hope and out of
rupture.
The w^ Answers the King our said sovain lord wol that
his said ambassatours use for their instruccon in this
behalfe. In witness whereof the same our sovaine lord
hath do be put hereto his grete and prive seels. Yeven
at Westm the xxx. day of Octobre the yere of his
raigne xxvij.
r
i
1440.] 27 HENRY VI. 65
llbid. art. 15.
Letter from the King to the Bishop of Durham, the Earl of West^
moreland, the Lords Clifford, Greystock, Dacre, and others, dated
3rd February, 27 Hen.VL 1440.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved cousin we grete you
wel .; It nedeth not to remembre you sith open ex-
perience shewethy of whatevellwylle malice and untoward
disposition the Scotts ben of toward us this oure reaume
and subgetts j which dayly by alle the wayes and meenes
thay can and may practise j enforceth thaim to the noy-
sance and hurte thereof^ and namely of oure marches
towards thaim j to whoos resistence if it be not diligently
w* effect entended and purveyed grete inconvenience
myght and were like to ensewe j that God defende. And
forasmoche as now the xij. day of this present moneth
oure parlement is limitted to be begunne at oure paloys
of Westm J in the which is requisite to be th'astats of
cure lande sperituell and temporell ^ never ye lesse if
by such occasion oure said Marches sholde lack the
presence of you and oyere suche as have enterest yere j
it shold nowe be unto ye said Scotts the gretier bolde-
nesse and encourraging more bysely to putte yaim in
their devoir for the acchiving of yaire said maliciouse
purpos and entent. Wherefore to eschewe alle perill that
might fall j we wol desyr and pray you hertely y* both
for oure and youre availle ye dispose you and effectuelly
entende upon and about the seure and saufkepyng of
cure said Marches and resistence of ye malice of oure
said evel wyllers ^ latyng you wite y* in this doing we
shall have you fully for excused of youre not comyng
to oure saide parlement. And we pray you y* ye leve
VOL. VI. F
k
66 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1449.
not this as oure singular trust ys on you and as ye
desire oure honeur and worship welfare and seurete
of oure said Marches. Yeven undre oure prive seal at
Westm the iij^^. day of Feverer anno tc. xxvij°.
To y* Bishop of Dureham To S*^ Thomas Percy
To th'Erle of Westmerlande To S' John Nevyll
To the Lord Clyfford To S' Thomas Nevyll
To the Baron of Graystok To S*" Thomas Lumley -
To the Lord Dacre
To the Lord Ponyngs
To the Lord Fitzhugh
To y* Lord Scrope of Bolton.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui consilii.
T. Kent.
09
'S
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, E. iii. f. 94. OriginaL
Petition to the King, with the Answer, ] 8th February, 27 Hen.VL 1449.]
To the Kyng oure sovaigne lord.
R. H.^
Besechith* mekely youre humblt 1 contynuett oratour
1 bedeman William Strete monke of the ordre of Seint
Benet in the abbay of Glastonbury j that where as he
nowe late for ])e more quiete 1 rest of his soule pursewed;
1 hat^ of oure holy fader the Pope his gracious bulles
of amigracion ^ that is to say ^ for your said suppliaunt to
be exempt '\ discharged from the said abbey and to goo
and be resident in an opi place of lyke ordre or in an
The King's autograph.
14490 27 HENRY VI. Qj
harder ordre to J?entent }?e more devoudy to serve and
please Almighty God j and your gracious licence ]7erupoiL
not badde ne purchaced ^ wheryn he dowtit^ him }>at he
hatfi offended your highnes. Please hit J>?fbre your said
hig^nes of your especiaS 1 benigne grace the premisses
tenderly considered j to graunt unto your said oratour
your gracious Ires patentz of pdoii in J)is ptie in sure 1
lawfutt fourme to be made j atte revence of God and
in wey of charitee. And he shaH pray specially God
for you.
The Kyng hath graunted this byll at Westmynstre
the xviij. day of Feverere the yere of his regne
xxvij. at the suy t of John PenycooK psente Phe
Wentworth and John Say.
[Additional MS. 4610, art. 16. a modern Transcript,
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 28th February, 27 Hen.VI. 1449.]
To the King our soveraign lord.
Mekelt besechen your highnesse your trewe oratoures
Dame Margarete Lyle late prioresse of Rowney in Hert-
fordshire with hur sustrell your fowndyd bedewomen j
compleyning lamentably unto your soverainete .; that
whereas your seid besechers may not have noo preste to
pray for your noble astate and prosperity and for all
ther good doers .; but yf thei wold have a yonge preste j
the which were not covenable for hem j or ellys askyn so
moche and grete salary that it is importable for them to
here.
F 2
68 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1449.
Please your noble soveraigne and benigne grace there
as your said besechers may have a good old frere my-
nour callyd Frere John Tyvnham the which is a good
prechour and is ther goostly fader and of good conversa-
tion J and desireth of grete devotion to doo divine service
there in that place for the moche love and devowtnesse
that the people hath to here his techyng and prechyng ^
that been vicines there next aboughte ^ to the grete
comforte and reliefe of the people and of Godds
service.
That it like your good grace tendrely to considre the
p^misses and of your habundant grace for there ese and
encresyng of Godds service j to send youre lettre of privy
seale unto Frere Thomas Rodenore doctor and pro-
vyncial mynistyr j he to amytte the foresaid Frere John
Tyvnham his lettre of obedience to be redy and enten-
daunt to your seid besechers and to the said house of
Rowney ^ soe that Godds service may encrece and the
better be done and ze most especiall and all there good
doers the better prayed for j and this to take effect now
in this holy tyme at the reverence of God and for
charite.
De mandate Regis per avisamentum concilii ultimo
Februarii anno 1c. xxvij^ Westm.
T. Kent
14490 27 HENRY VI. 69
[Bibl. Cotton. Galba, B. i. f. 151. Original
Instructions issued on the 17th March, 27 Hen. VI. 144^, to William
Pirton esquire, lieutenant of Guisnes, and Edward Grimston esquire,
the commissioners who were to treat with the Duchess of Burgundy.
These persons, with several others, were appointed to negociate
with that princess for a reformation of attempts made against the
truce on the 8th of May following. Vide Foedera, vol. xi. p. 2S0.3
Instruccon yeven by the King oure soveraine lorde
unto his trusty and welbeloved squyers William
Pirton lieutenant of Guysnes and Edwarde
Grymeston whome he sendeth at this tyme
to his cousin the Duchesse of Bourgoigne and
to yither of ])aim.
Furste thai shal with reverence convenable present
theire Ires the which among other thingf conte3aie cre-
dence ^ and in opening of theire credence thay shal saye
in substance as foloweth j with as good termes and Ian-
gage as God and thaire discrecons shal yeve tham with
such circustances as shalbe thought expedient.
And proceding ferther thay shal mowe say that it is
not unknowen unto hir that afore this tyme thentrecourse
of marchandise hath hadde his place betwix the Kingf
^people landes and lordeshippes and people landes and
lordshippes there j the which hath ben to the greet profile
and welfare of both parties and greetly chirisshed love
and frendeship on bothe parties j and the King is welt
content and alle way hathte to do his parte that alle
thing be as it hath be withoute Y any noveltees be
hadde on his side j thinging \?X ])at other partie sholde do
the same./ And therfore he mervailleth what shold sture
or be the causes or meanes of such ordenance and
phibicons as be nowe made by the said Duchesse that
con Englisshe cloth be brought solde or uttred in
F 3
? 70 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1449.
Holland Zelland and oj)? places of hir obeisance whereas
it hath be used afore this tyme.
Item thay sal mowe remembre that aswel that in
thappointementf made afore this tyme betwix the King
and thaim of Holand and Zelande \c\ as in the
trewes taken by my Lorde of Yorke in the Kingf name
with hir c5misaires at Roon^ divers tymes sithefi pro-
roged J it is conteigned expressely that alle marchandises
sholde freely have his cours betwix bothe parties without
any lette or disturbance.
Item the same is also conteined in the trewes taken
and yit enduring betwix the King and his oncle of
France j in the which the King understandeth the saide
Duchesse is comprised j and therfore not withoute cause
the King mervailleth of the said ordinance so ayenst the
frendeship thappointementf 1 also divers trewes.
Item the saide ordenance is ayenst the custume long
tyme observed j for it canne not be remembred but at
alle tymes it hath be seii used English clothe to resorte
and have his uttrance in Hollande Zelland and other
places where it is nowe forboden.
Item thay shal mowe saye that the nature of trewes
wol and is thentent therof that alle marchandise shold
have his course and marchantf to have their coicacon
eche with other,/ and if it so were that an ordenance
myght be made^ for the stopping of oo maner of mar-
chandise in like wyse it myght be extended to another ^
and so to alle j and by that meane alle marchandise
seese and the trewe remayne of noon effect nor ease
to the subgettf .
Item if it be saide that this matier myght be eased at
suche tyme as it shold be spoke of the restitucon of
attemptatf j it may be saide that it is thought that the
1449.] 27 HENRY VI. 71
saide ordennance may not be called attemptate nor
comprised in the matier therof ^ but is directly enervacon
of the trewe and contrary thereto and in no wise re-
fonnable lesse then it be revoked.
Item thay shal remembre that for that for the putting
downe and to set aside the saide ordinance ^ the King
hath many tymes and ofle writen to the said Duchesse
and sent also notable persones with credence to wiH and
sture hir by suche meanes as thay couth to the revocacon
thereof,/ and yit alle this not withstanding it is not per-
ceived that any remedy ys sett or ordeined ^ to the greet
hurt and damage of the K ingf people.
Item thay shal mowe say that where as nowe the King
hath called the iij. astatf of his lande and thay be as-
sembled at the citee of London for his parlement ^ ye said
iij. astatf have piteuously complayned * upon the saide
ordenance and mekely besought the Kingf good grace
that he wold ordeigne and stablisti that witlioute the
saide ordenance without delay or taring wer putte asyde
that ther shold no marchandise of the saide contrees
be brought receyved nor attempted in this lande j but be
forfaited in caas it be brought hider j and here upon thai
shal in the Kingf behalf desire and also requif the saide
Duchesse that the ordinance abovesaidbe anullid revoked
and set aside so that the King have no cause to entende
to thexecucon of the said request.
Item for asmoch as it is said and the voise of the
people renneth that ther shalbe not long to certain armes
at Seint Omers and undre that colour greet numbre of
people like to assemble j and also that divers abilimentf
of werre ben ordeigned and made in divers places of that
» Vide Rot. Pari. vol. v. pp. 150, 151.
F 4
1
7« ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [!*«.
obeisance j the said ambassatours shal mowe of their owne
self speke and comune upon this matier and fele by alle
the meanes thai canne to wat entent the said thing be
ordeignedy for J^e noise and renome is that undre the
saide coleure divers enterprises be ymagined and take in
hande.
Item the said ambassatours shal putte thaim by sucb
wyse in thair devoir that thay mowe bring suc^ answere
in writing from the saide Duchesse as it shal like hir to
»
give to the saide matiers.
Item thai shal mowe saye that the King for thentire
love and good desyre that he hath to the saide Duchesse 4
hath proceded in maner and fourme as he hatli in writing
and sending divers tymes as is abovesaid j and used no
rigure for the remedy of the said ordennance not with-
standing that it is so prejudicial as it is ^ and therfore he
trusteth verrayly that she consydering the honest meenes
that the King hath used in this behalf^ without difficulte
wol purvey for setting asyde of the said ordennance
without more delay j and so guyde hir in Y behalf Y Y
King shal have no cause to op? man! of pceding.
Item proceding furthermore thay shal as colourably as
thay can ^ speke of thutrance of wolles at Calais y re-
membring the said Duchesse as it were of J^aim self ^ saying
if she wolde putte therto hir hande it might be so pur-
veyyed by meenes that by the saide uttrance gret good
sholde mow growe not oonly to the marchantf that uttre
theire woll but also to the beyers therof y the whiche in
gret part be hir subgittf j and thay may say thay doubte
not but that the King wol on his behalf so ordeine that it
shal be to the plesir of the said Duchesse and profite to
hir people. And if so be that the said Duchesse be wel
disposed and towardly in the said matiers thay shal
1«^0 27 HENRY VI. 73
mowe saye that if she wol ordeyne and depute hir people
aswel for the quatre membres as other to have coica-
con upon the saide matiers the King wol be redy
also to ordeine his cdmissaryes. In witnesse Ic. Yevefi
"ic. at Westm the xvij, day of Marche the yere He.
xxvij.
De mandato Pr anno 1 die sup'scripf.
T. Kent.
[Additional MS. 4610. art. 19. a modem TVanscripL
Proceeding of the Council, 18th March, 27 Hen. VI. 1440.]
Henri T:c. To the moost reverent fadre in God John
arcfaebisshop of Canterbury primat of alle Englande oure
Chanceller greting. Forasmoch aa in the trewes take
and appointed betwix us and oure cousin the Duchese of
Borgoigney amongs other things it is conteigned that
appatesing sholde seese in certaine fourme in the same
appointement declared j the which notwithstanding j the
souldeours of oure gameson of Crotoye have made leve
and^take appatisementes ayenst the saide article j for the
reparation wherfore oure trusty and welbeloved William
Cantelowe by oure comaundement hath payed unto the
Bastard of Saint Foule the some of v^. marc j and we
willing that the saide William be content in this behalf
have graunted unto him paiement to be made of the said
some of the dismes and quinzismes next to be graunted
unto us by the comunes and clergie of this oure land j
therfor • • and charge you that hereupon ye
<loo make oure letters patentes undre oure greet seal
74 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1440.
in due fourme. Yeven Ic. at Westm the xviij. day of
Marche the yere of oure regne xxvij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum suil
consilii y praesenl Dnis Cancett Thes I T. Kent
Custod privati sigitt Suff Ic. J
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F.v. f. 142. OriginaL
Proceeding of the Council, 11th June, 27 Hen. VI. 1449.]
By the King.
Trusty and welbeloved j it is comen unto oure knowe-
lache by credyble report howe that by occasion of suche
thingf as ben saide and spredde abrode in this our lande
fof the evyS dysposicon and malicous purpos of the Due
' of Bourgoigne and his subgettf j that thay have towardys
oure towne of Calais and the remenant of oure obeissance
there y suche people of the Duche tongue aswel of Flandres
as other contrees as ben inhabitantf in our citee of
: Londoii the suburbes and procint of ])e same y as Sowtfi-
werke and other places y ben trowbled spoyled and un-
dewly vexed hurt and cruelly entreted dayly j aswel by
souldiours going towardf our said towne of Calais for the
defence of the same 4 as other people v whiche thing is
' ayenst God all! reason and humanitee ^ considred that
thay bein admitted to dwelt undre oure obeissance ^ in
whiche cas nothing shewed by thaim unto the contrary ^
thaim ought noone otherwyse be entreted than well nor
we ne wold thai were j W^erfore we wol and charge you
•straitely that by proclamacon and otherwyse ye putt you
soo in your devoir and dyligence that no moo suche
exorbitances be comitted from hens forthe j but that re-
1449.] 27 HENRY VI. 75
fonnacon be made as ferforthe as ye shal mowe of pat is
doon amissey and that the said people may peisible
witKoute any suche empechement lyve and entend thai?
crafles and bisinesses as thay have dooii before tyme.
Yeven \c\ at Wynchestre the xj. day of Juyn the yere of
cure regne xxvij.
To our trusty and welbeloved the Mair and sherryeft*
of our citee of London.
}
De mandato Regis p avisamentum sui"
consilii y pn{ Diiis Car^' Cancelt
Thes Wintgn Elien Wigorn Nor- rLANOPORT.
wic Cestr Duce Suff Cromwett I
Stourton Ttc. ^
[Blbl. Cotton. CleopatrSy £. iii. f. 94. Original.
Petition to the King, with the Answer> 2nd Ju]y> 27 Hen^VI. 1449.]
To the Kyng our sovayn lord.
Besechith* mekely your preest and oratour William
bisshop of Coventr and Lict j that where there ben within
the counte of Chestre and in the cite of Chestre mony
advowtrers fornicatours and other mysdoers ayenes the
lawe of God j the whict mysdoers the oflScers of youre
seyd besecher dar not ne may not correcte ne amende
within the seyd counte and cite./ some for cause of
mygM of hem self and some for cause of maynten^nce
that they have of mighty men within the seyd counte j
that it please unto your highnesse to g*unt by your
sePaH tres patentz undre your grete seal! of England and
your seaB of Chestre unto your seyd besecher j that your
seyd besecher and his officers duryng the lyve of your
76 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1449.
seyct besecher y may cite and calle and make to be cited
and called oute of the sey d shyre and cite [into any other
places of his diocise] all maS of psones residentz and to
be residentz within the seyd shyre or cite in att maner
of causes and mars concnyng and touching the lawe of
holy chirche v any writte or cdmaundement to your seyd
besecher or any of his officers from you afore this tyine
directed or hereafter to be directed to the cont^rie
hereof notwithstondyng y and he shalt pray God for you.
Secundo die Julii anno 1c*. xxvij"^. sepales tre-i
fQunt fee sub privato sigillo prout supra de- \
sideratur. •'
[Bibl. Cotton. Galba, B. i. f. 152. Original
Instructions issued on the 30th July, 27 Hen.VL 1449, to John lord
Dudley and Doctor Thomas Kent, clerk of the Council, ambassa-
dors to the Duchess of Burgundy. Vide Foedera, vol. xi. pp. 2SS,
2S4-]
R. H.i
Instrucion yeven by the King oure soveraigne lorde
unto his right trusty and welbeloved and trusty and wel-
beloved John lorde Duddeley his counsailler and Maister
Thomas Kent doctour of bothe lawes clerc of his coun-
saifi whiche he sendeth at this tyme his ambassiatours
unto his cousine []?e] Duchesse of Bourgoigne.
Furst ])e said ambassiatours after presentacon of }>eir
Ires in manere and fourme and witl^ reverens accustumed j
shaS mowe open and say that the King in shewing his
good wiB and towardnes that aS thingf dooK ayenst )>e
The King's autograph.
1449.] 27 HENRY VL 77
treues made and badde betwix him and pe said! Duchesse
thereto sufficiently autorized by hir husband y which yit en-
dure v sent no we late to histowne of Calais his commissaries^
there to assemble with pe commissaries of J^e said Duchesse jr
the which at )>eir meting had communicacon upon ye ma-
tiers yat [pei] were but greet difficultees caused pat
yei full conclusion as the King hath understande
by J>e report of his [said] commissaries specially
for asmucli as nowe late J^e Kingf subgettf have been
greetly troubled and vexed in ]>e said Dukf countre in
their bodies and goodf holdeii under arrest committed to
prison and many of J'eim grevously and fuS cruelly en-
tretid directly ayenst J?e [ ] of I>e said treues v in
the which matiers )>e commissaries of }>e said Duchesse
affermed )>at J^ei had not in charge nor were instruct to
speke p]eof . • . promitted J^ai wolde make reporte of J^aim
to )>e said Due and also putte thaim in J^eir devoir pat pat
matier and opJ e delivered to writing shulde
be answered toy if J^e King wolde sende toj^e said Duchesse
afore )>e furst day of Septembre next commyng. Where-
fore the Kyng contynuyng his good wiS and desire
abovesaid sendith at this tyme to ]>e said Duchesse to
))entent J^at ^e said matiers and o]nr may be eased.
And hereupon make requeste ^at \>e persones of pe
said marchauntf with J^eir goodf be putte at fuB fredom
withoute [y] any arrest or restraint be made pie upoii or
any empechement or lett yeven to j>e said marchauntf in
disposicon of ])air said goodf or in paymenlf to be made
to hem by J>e Dukf subgettf of such goodf or dettf as
yei owe to the said marchauntf.
Item the said ambassiatours shaS mowe say yat J'ogb
it had be see yat any thing were doon or attemptated
ayenst ^^e said treues by ye subgettf either of ye King
78 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1449.
or of ]>e Due j it ne were nor is lawfuS to e partie ayeinst
whome it were so attemptid in semble wise to committe
and offende ]fe trewe j but make request for repacon J^ieof
like as 'pe trewes conteigned^ wherein for ]>e Kingf partie if
any thing hat& opir wise be doon Jeanne ougfiity ]fei ben redy
to entende to repacon if yat ofj party lust to do ]>e same.
And so ]>e said ambassiatours instantly shall aske afore
aH thing hole restitucon of J)e goodf of J^e Kingf
being there imder arrest in ]>e obeisance of )>e said Due.
Item if pe said ambassiatours by such reasons and
meanes as semeth unto theim necessarie j shall not mowe
optaigne delivaunce and restitucon of J^e said marchauntf
and goodf j })ai shall mowe say J^ai be redy to have knowlege
of ]?e hurtf ]?at be pretended doon to the said Dukf sub-
gettf and to what siime J^ai extende j the which hadde by
suche meanes and proves as shaB be pougbt resonable to
the said ambassiatours j psi shall mowe promitt in }>e Kingf
name J^at it shatt be deuly assithed for }>e said somme. And
yf o)>ir suertee be disired^ ]>e said ambassiatours shall mowe
say if pat o)>ir partie thinke it be for ]7eim to kepe so
much of pe English marchauntf goodf as pe said sumes
drawith too undre arrest j )?ai may not say nay j but J?ay
shall straunge [)?aim] to consent therto j yit rather }>anne
rupture shulde sewe ]m shaS consent and appoint pat it
so be to thentent J^at pe marchauntf and their goodf be
frely delivered y so )^t marchandise may have cours for pe
profit of boith sydes.
Item in cas pat the goodf whereof )>at othir partie
desireth restitucon be not paventure for absence of pe
partie or o]nr causes j not declared nor provid j but aske
a delay j the said ambassatours as above shall sufire or
consent )>at suche a somme of EngliBsh marchauntf good^
remaigne undre arrest as shall be pogbt to J^air discreconn
14490 27 HENRY VI. 79
to J^entent J^at pe Englisslb marchauntf may have entre-
cours of iDarchandise.
Item furthermore the saide ambassatours shalt mowe
saje that it is not unknowen unto the saide Duches that
afore J'is tyme thentrecours of marchandise hath had his
place betwix ]>e Kingf people landes It lordeshippes and
ye people landes and lordeshippes ^e j the which hatti be
to greet profite and welfare of both parties and gretely
cherisshid love and frendeship on both sides j and )>e King
is wel content and alway hath be to doo his part yat alle
Kng be as it aught w^oute any noveltees be had in his
side J ]nnking y )>at opi ptie sholde do ]fe same y and pj for
he mervailleth what sholde sture or be ]>e causes or meenes
of sucfi ordennaunce and prohibicons as been now made
by y>e saide Duchesse ]>Bt noon Englissh cloth be bought
soldo or uttred in Hollande Zellande and Brabande.
Item thay shal remembre that the King hath sende to
the saide Duchesse divs tymes for revocacon as )?e trewes
wolde p?of V and where as she certified by hir writing
and paventure wol now say the same J?at }>e saide orde-
naunce was made by thavis wille or aggrement of }>e
marchauntf of the staple at Calais j J^ay shal mowe say that
it canne not mowe [so] be conteined but that fully ]>e
marchauntes of the staple had never knowlech pioi j for
}>ei had in examinacon pJ in plainly denied it j and ]>ough
it had be so ^st sum of the saide mchauntes for theire
plesire or singuler proffite wolde have desired such a
thing ayenst the comune weel j as it cannot be knowe th^
King wolde not have supposed }>at ]>e saide Duchesse
wolde be moeved pJ with v and sithen pst she nowe
kiioweth wel ])at ]>e King is not nor may not be contente
w^ so prejudicial a J^ing and ayenst ]>e trewes as he un-
derstandeth j )?is is as weB to his subgittf as othr.
80 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [144^9.
Item 'pei shal mowe remembr J'at aswel in ]?appointe-
mentf made afore this tyme betwixt )?e King and j^eim
of Holande Zelande Ic. as in }>e trewes taken by my
Lorde of Yorke in ]>e Kinges name with hit c5missaries
at Roen j divs tymes sethen proroged j it is conteigned
expresly }>at alle mchandise shulde firely have his cours
betwixt both parties withouten any lette or desturbance.
Item 'pe same is also conteigned in the trewes taken
and yet enduring betwixt ]>e King and his uncle of
Fraunce j in ]>e which pe King understandeth pe saide
Duchesse is comprised y and pjfor not withoute cause pe
King iSveilleth of J^e saide ordenaunce so ayenst ]>e frend-
ship }?at pointementf and also divs trewes.
Item J?ei shal mowe say )?at )?e nature of trewes wott
and is ])entent piofj pat alle mchandise shulde have his
cours and iSchauntf to have J?eir coicacon ech w* ojJ? j and
[if] it so were pat an ordenaunce might be made for pe
stopping of 00 man! of mchaundise in like wise it might be
extended to a nop] v and so to all! j and by )>at mene alle
jSchandise cesse and pe trewe remaigne of noofl eflfect
nor ease to pe subgittf .
Item pe saide ordenaunce is ayenst pe custume long
time ob#ved j for it canne not be remembred but al tymes
it hath be seen and used Englissh cloth to resorte and have
utterance in Hollande Zelande and Braband where it is
now for boden.
Item J?ei shal mowe remembre ]?at for pe putting a
downe and setting a side of pe saide ordenaunce j pe King
bath many times and ofte writen to pe saide Duchesse
and also sent notable persones with credence to wille and
sture hir by such meanes as }>ei coude to pe revocacon
flofj and yit all]ns notw*standing it is not pceived )>at
any remedie is set and ordeined.
144a3 ^ HENRY VI. 81
Item thei sfaal mowe sey J^at ]>e King for thentier love
and desire ]>at he hath to ]>e saide Duchesse v hath pro-
ceded in roaD) and fourme as he hat^ in writing and
sending divs tymes as above is saide j and used no rigour
for pe remedie of 'pe saide ordenaunce notwithstanding
paA it is so p^udiciai as it is v and ^for he trusteth verily
pat she considering ]>e honest meanes J^at I'e King hath
used in Jns behalf j without difficulte wol purvey for setting
a side of pe saide ordenaunce withoute more delay j and
80 gide hir J^at pe King shal have no cause to any othr
man! of proceding.
Item ]fei shal say how JTat in pe last parlement )>e
iij. astates of )>e lande pete assembled j ]>e cdmunes have
grevously complained * upon J>e saide ordenance j in so
moch ysit with grete instaunce it is passid by pe saide
parlement for a decree J^at if J^e saide ordenaunce be not
leide a side w^n a certain tyme ]>zt p?e shulde no Schan-
dise of thobeisance of ]>e Due of Bourgoigne be brought
received nor accepted in this lande j but be forfaited in
caas it be brought hider [as it more largly is conteignid
in the acte of parlement y the whiche thei shal mowe
declare to the said Due or Duchesse] And here upon J^ei
shal desire and require pe saide Duchesse }>at pe saide
ordenance be anuUed and revoked in such wise as the
King have no cause to precede to J?execucon of the saide
decree.
Item the saide comissaries shaS remembre that the
yere of oure [Lord] a m^. ccccxlv. the ix. day of Apritt j in
the towne of Bruges j were made Tt appointed betwix the
Kingf c5missaries and J^e c5misaries of Holland Zelland
Tt Priseland j certaine articles pe which ]>e saide Due hath
1 Vide Rot. Pari. vol. v. pp. 150, 151.
VOL. VI, G
82 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [144d.
approved ratified Tt confermed j and amongf o])? thingf
it was ordeined \ appointed that Englisst marchauntf
shuld have had in recompense of theire hurtf \ wronges
doon to thaim by men of Holland Zelland 1 Friseland a
rertaine some of money to have be paied at certain dayes^
and if any defaute happed or were in paiement pjof or
any pte thereof y thanne it shuld be lawefuH to )?e saide
EnglissR merchauntf to arrest the saide Hollanders
Zellanders ^ Frises theire goodis and shippes and kepe
]?aim and aliene J^e saide goodf til the fuH contentement
of ]7e saide somes witti costf and damages after )?e dis-
crecons of J>e Kingf c5missaries j and oV J^at resorte to
theire hole accons that J^e saide Englissh merchant^ had
before ayenst J?e saide HoUaders Zellanders 1 Frises j fe
whicR )?ingf more at large appere in thappointementf
made jTieupoil. And sith it is soo that J^e saide dayes of
paiement ben not kept but J^at J^ai ben past and also
divse T: many delayes desired by J?e saide Duchesse j the
comissaries abovesaide shall aske and require redy con*
tentemt of J^e saide somes due w* damagf It costf made
in J^at behalf y to the whict if Jmt op? ptie wott condescende
J?e King is content y ]?e saide appointementf remaigne
\ be obfved as fey were accorded.
And if it be soo J^at opi ptie wott not entende J?] to
nor appointe the contentement of ]?e saide s5me j J>e saide
comissaries shatt lat ]?aym wite in J^e Kingf behalf his
wille is l)at his subgittf have It rejoice J^e benefet of ))e
saide appointementf l?at was made T: accorded if ^f%
money were not paied at ]7e dayes accorded ^ and also
]>at ]?ai be admitted to have hoole restitucon of J?e goodf
take from )»im aft )?effect of J^e saide appointementf.
Item the saide comissaries shaB use tharticles above-
saide witEi such direccioii and circumstancf as God It
]>aire discrecons woH yeve )>aim.
1449.] 27 HENRY VI. 83
Item the saide ambassatours shatt say pBx ben redi to
entende and pcede in frendly wise as lawe and reason
woB y to the reformacon of attemptatf j 1 pi upon be redy
to receyve It here the complaintz of bott sides It auns^
sweres to ]7aim "It do thaire pte to understonde the
trouthe of )>e saide complayntf by due T: lawful! ex-
amynacouy J^at is to say^ ]?ai shall: see whoo it is p^
complaynetli ^ whej^ir he be pie in his owne psone or
by what auctorite he apperitb v and admitte no complainte
w'out ye complaigner have sufficient power.
Item |>ei shaff in examynyng "pe mats j receyve ^ ad-
mitte sucll proves as lawe woHy not yevyng feitft to
thafiermacion of ]>e ptie nor to Ires tesiioiall of citees
townes or officers y neip? to private writyngf j but to wit^
nesses duely examyned j confession of pe pties j open in-
strumentf j open knowlache of )>e dede j or 6^ proves
suche as pe lawe woH admitte or such as it shaB be
{^ougM to ])eire discrecons sufficient.
Item for asmuche as it is supposed }>at J^e Kingf
subgittf upoii whom ]>e complaintz ben 1 shatt be
made woS not be psentv the saide ambassatours shaB
mowe saye J^ai ben redy not withstanding thabsence of
pe ptie to hiere J^eire complaintz to fele 1 receyve J>e
proves in pat ptie j % soo shaB mowe do 1 comune and
debate pe matier as shaB be }H)ug1&t to J^aire discrecons j
absteynyng J>aim in aB p^ ]?ai may to condescende 1
yeve anyjugement or sentence ayenst)?e ptie so absent
JiougllL it be jK)uglit mat clerely proved v but if it so be
pat for pe better pceding in othir mars or to eschewe
rupture or ops inconveniences it shaB be pouglSt to the
said ambassatours necessarie and behovefuB to pcede It
yeve suche sentence. And in p^ cas }>ai shaB sai J^ai woB
g2
84. ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1449-
reporte it to J>e King to J^at entent )>at execucion be
made as jfe caas shaS requyre.
Item if it shall be semed expedient to the saide am-
bassatourf thay shall mowe appointe another tyme for a
genial reparacon of attemptatis c5mitted by both pties
as it shaS be semed to J^aim moost behovefiill.
Item for asmuclb as by the noon utteraunce of the
woUes growen in this lande not oonly J?e King is greetly
hurt in his custumes and subsidies but also )>e comune^
of his lande growers of pe saide woUes j the which noon
utteraunce is understande causid by pe direccion and
reules not moost pfitable usid in ]>e staple at Calais j ]>e
saide ambassatours shall have coicacon w^ }>e saide
estaple and call to J^aire remembraunce J^at at sucti tyme
as nowe late in the parlement ]?e Maire of ]>e saide
estaple sewid to optaigne certain articles for J>e wele 1
ease of ]>e saide estaple j he pmittid in }>e name of his
feliship psit at sucR tyme as )?e King wolde sende to
Calais his comissaries j ]>e saide Maire % feleship shulde
be redy to entende to ]?e puttyng aside [of] such J?ingf
as lette J^e saide utteraunce It to ordeigne and stablissEi
good reules for bett utteraunce to be hadde j as it ap-
perith by ]>e Ires sent fro J>e saide feliship to J?aire
Maire It by }?acte of parlement. Wherefor J>e saide am-
bassatours havyng coicacon w^ J^e saide Maire and
spialy w* J^aim J^at undrestande J^em best and have
moost experience in ]>e saide matiers j shall stere require
and also c5maunde )>at J^ai entende effectuelly to al
man! good reules It meanes ]?at shatt be J)ouglit behovefult
for )>e saide utteraunce.
Item if it be soo ]?at ]?e quatremebres of Flaundres
wil for J^e bettre meanes of utteraunce of woll to be
1449.] 27 HENRY VI. ' , SS
hadde j come to Calais to have coicacion with pe saide
Maire and feliship j the saide ambassatours shaB wil and
also comaunde theym }?at pey honestly and frenly
comune w* J^aim and here thaym pacienlJy and wele
coDsidre thofires yat ]>3i vfiH make^ and J^at ]>e saide
estaple make to thaim sucli ofires as \mm shaS )>ink
expedients and the saide ambassatours shall! entende
appointe and conclude with J^e saide quatremembres
suche ]>ingf as shall be )>oght to ])aim and to dp] named
in )?aire comissioii necessarie and behovefuB.
Km thei shall use thordre abovesaid yf it shal be
thought to Jjeime so expedient or ett oon article before
a no})? as it shaS be thought to peire discrecon moost
necessarie and behovefull. In wittenesse whereof to })i8
pnt instruccon pe Kyng our said souvain lord hath do
be putte his greet and prive sealx. Yeven at Westm pe
XXX. day of JuiS the yerof pe regne of the same ou?
souvain lord xxvij***.
Lecta concordat et conclusa anno die mense et loco
supMictis de mandato Regis p avisamentum sui
consilii v pnl dnis Car^* Cancel! Cicestren Custod
pVati sigilli Abbate Gloucestrie Duddeley Ic*.
Langport.
G 3
80 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1449.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. vi. f. 420 b. Original.
Ordinances of the King, dated 18th August, 27 Hen. VI. 1449.]
The King at Brayneford the xviij. day of Aust the
yere ^c. xxvij. wolde and comaunded warraunt ta be
made in due fourme [undre prive seel] unto the Tresorer
and Chambleins of theschequy er to receyve of J^executours
of Henri late Cardinal of Englande suche of the Kingf
jeuelx as the said late Cardinal had in gage for the s5me
of ij. m^. xL li. and to make assignement to ]>e said ex-
ecutours of the said ij. m^xl. ti. upon the dissie furst
part of the half disme graunted unto hs the King in the
last convocacon j at suche place to be taken as pe said
executours wol be content w*.
Item the King wol that after the said Tresorer and Cham*
bleins have receyved the said jeuelx j that thay delivre
thaim by endenture unto Reynold abbot of Gloucestre and
Thomas Maunselt squyer j thay to engage thaim for as
grete a some as thay shal mowe chevisshe ]>J upon.
Item where as for to aide the King in setting forth
of J^armees the whiche the Lord Powys the Lord
Zouches sone and i Robert Veere knight shal lede j my
Lord of Canterbury hath pmissed to leiie the King c. IL
my Lord of Suff m^. li. in jeuelx j my Lord Prive Seel
v*". K. in plate [to be engaged jj the King wol y the said
Tresorer and Chamhleins make assignementf for repay-
ment of the said some of c. ti. and also for thacquityng
of ]>e said jeuelx and plate unto the said my Lordf of
Suff and Prive Seel frely to be delivred upon the xv"*.
and disme graunted unto the King in )>e last parlement and
1 The King's autograph.
1440.] 27, 28 HENRY VI. 8?
convocacon or of pcett J>?of suche as thay and eviche of
thaim wol be content w^ j and that ])eire assignementf so
to be made be in no wise chaunged afterwardf . And [to]
})entent that the said Tresorer and Chaumblains shal
mowe wel understande and knowe that it is the Kingf
Ml wilt and c5maundement that the «d44 thingf abovesaid
and everch of thaim be fully doofi and executed v the
King hatl& signed this act w^ his owen hande.
Acta de Anno Vicesimo octavo.
[Additional MS. 4610. art. ^* a modern Tramcrqn,
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 16th November, 28 Hen. VL
1449.]
To the King oure souverayne lord.
It. xl.
Besecheth mekely the Lord Beauchamp maistre of
youre hors j that it please you to graunte yowere gracious
letters under youre prive seell to the Tresorer and
Barons of youre eschequer direct j commaundyng theyme
be the seide letters duely to accounte with the saide
Lord Beauchamp maister of your hors be his oothe or
be the oothe of his depute sufBsaunt alsewell of all
maner of tnoneye be the saide Lord Beauchamp or be
his depute received fro the xv*^. day of Feverier the
yere of youre regne xxvij. unto this tyme charged j as
of alle maner hors be the saide Lord Beauchamp or be
his deputees duryng this tyme unto youre use with-
^ The King's autograph.
G ^
gg ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [IU9.
ynne youre reme of England purveied and bought j and
of alle manere sadill and bridell and alle other har-
neyses longyng unto his office be the saide Lord Beau-*
camp or be his deputee unto youre use receyved j raakyng
unto the said Lord Beauchamp be the same ooth due
allouance alsewell of all maner moneye be the saide
Lord Beauchamp or be his deputee of youre Tres(Mrer
of England for the accate and purveaunce for the said
hors receyved j and also for dyvers hors be yow to dyvers
persones withynne youre reme of Englande yoven and be
the said Lord Beauchamp to youre Aulmoner delyvered j
and of alle maner of hors deed yn moreyne j and also
for all manere of costages and expenses be the said Lord
Beauchamp or be his deputees made aboute the per-
veaunces and the accates of the said hors bought and
purveied yn dy verse plases as hit ys above rehersed^^
and of all manere sadill and brydell and alle othir
harneis longyng unto the office of the saide Lord
Beauchamp be you yoven and yn youre servise perused
duryng the tyme above saide ^ and also for to allowe
paper parchement and alle othir thynges long3mg unto
his accounte as ned ys ^ as hit hath be allowed unto othir
divers personys maistres of the hors of youre ryght noble
progenytours afor this tyme.
Lettre ent feust fie a Loundres le xvj. jour de
Novembr Ian Itc. xxviij.
(In dorso.) To the reverend fader in God oure right trusty
and welbeloved the Bisshop of Chichestre keper of oure
prive seel.
1449.3 28 HENRY VI. 89
llUd. art. 86.
Proceeding of the Council, 28th November, 28 Hen.VI. 1449.]
Henri Itc. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains *lc.
grating j Sith it is so that the reverend fadre in God
cure right trusty and welbeloved the Bisshop of Chichestre
keper of oure prive sealle is in oure ambassiate v^
other at this time by us ordeigned to assemble with
thambassatours of the Kinge of Scottes at Dureham
for the good of pees with Goddes mercy to be had and
concluded betwix this oure reaume and ye reaume of
Scotlande^ in whose absence we have assigned oure
trusty and welbeloved chapelain the Dean of Poules to
have the gouvemaunce of thoflBce and keping of oure
said prive seal j. taking by the consent of the said reverent
fadre during the said absence xx. s. by day for wages dayly
longing to the said office .; We wol and charge you that
in partie of paiement of the charges costes and expenses
that he hath borne during the said time^ ye do paie
of our tresour xxiiij. li. in redy paiement in hande.
Yeven Ic. within oure citee of London at the Blake
Freres ye xxviij**. day of Novembr the yere of our regne
xxviij**.
De mandato Regis per advisamentum Consilii.
T. Kent.
[Ibid. art. GO. 4th December, 28 Hen.VI. 1449.]
HsNRY tc. to the Tresourer and Chamblains of oure
eschequier greting j For as moche as oure right trusty
and right welbeloved cousin Richard due of York is
w%olde towardes us by endenture beringe date at Westm
the XXX. day of Juitt the yere of oure regne xxv. to
have the gouvernement of oure lande of Irlande for
90 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [l*5a
X. yere yanne next folowing 4 for the whiche he sholde
take of us for the first yere iiij. m^ marc j and for
everiche of the remanant of ye saide x, yere ij. m^ marc j
to be paied in maner and fourme conteigned in the
saide endentures ^ We wol and charge you yat in partie
of paiement of suche sommes of money as ben due unto
oure said cousin for ye saide cause 4 ye doo make unto
him payement or sufficient assignement of m^ cc ti.
Yeven Ic, at the Frere Prechours ye iiij. day of Decembr
the yere Ttc. xxviiij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii j pnC
dnis Car*' Cancett Sufif T:c.
T. Kent
[iWa. art. 62. 11th February, 28 Hen.Vl. 1450.]
Henri Ttc. to ye Tresorer and Chamberlayns of oure
eschequier gretyng j We wol and charge you that unto
oure welbeloved Johan Abery ye which from oure right
dere and welbeloved cousyns ye Duke of Somers 1c.
and y'Erle of Shrovesbury hath broght us certajrne
tithyngs^ ye delyvere of oure tresour v, marcs to be
had and taken of oure yift by way of reward. Yeven
1c. at Westm ye xj. day of Feverer ye yere 1c. xxviij.
De mandato Domini Cancel! et ad relationem Domini
Cusl Privati Sigilii 1c.
T. Kent.
[Ibid, art. 64. 17th February^ and apparently in the 28th Hen. VI.
1450.]
By the King.
Trusty and welbeloved j For asmoch as it is openly
and universelly known througli oute this oure lande j and
among other to you ^ as we conceive wel by ccrtaine
145a] 28 HENRY VI. 91
letters that but late agoo were sent unto you ^ the which
ye as oure trewe subgittz withoute delay sent unto us j
wherof we can you right goode thanke y that greet labour
and bisinesse is doon- and in doing under untrewe
fained and pretense colores of entending to the comune
weel of this oure lande j where as God knoweth thentent
of thoo that so labour is to the subversion therof ^ to
make assembles and gadering of oure subgitz of this
lande ayenst oure entent and ayenst oure lawe and
proclamations late made according to oure saide lawes.
We with the grace of our Lorde entending as it belongeth
unto us to lette restraigne and rebuke the said unlief*
full unlaiefull and ungodly purpose write unto you
willing and also charging you y^ ye no faith nor cre-
dence yeving to writings letters or sending of any per-
sone of what degree condition or astate that ever he be to
thentent of any such gaderings not commanded by us
under oure greet or privie seel or under oure signett or
of such as be remembred and specified in oure said
proclamations y sufire no gaderings or assembles to be
made among you j nor receive into oure towne admitte
or herborgh any routes or assembles of oure subgitts
w^out oure commandement gadered or assembled ^ And
faillith not herein as oure trust is on you and as ye
woll shewe and prove you our faithfuU and trewe sub-
gitts. Yeven under oure prive seel at Westm the
xvij. day of Feverer.
To ye Mair and baillieffs of oure citee of Canterbury.
To y® Portreve and inhabitaunce of oure towne of
Maidestan.
To ye Mair and aldermen of oure towne of Col-
chestre.
To the Mair and bailliffs of Sandewich.
92 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1450.
To the Mair baillifis and commyne of cure towne
of Oxinford.
To y® bailleffs burgeis and commons of Wynchelsey,
To the Maire bailleffs and commaltee and inhabi-
tants of y^ toune of Sudbury.
llbid. art. 6S. 9th May, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henry by the grace of God King of England and of
Fraunce and Lord of Irlande to the Tresorer and
Chamberlains of oure eschequyer greting j For asmoche
as we sende at this tyme oure trusty and welbeloved
Maister Thomas Kent doctor of both lawes and clerc
of oure counsaill in oure ambassiate j as well to oure
towne of Calais for to mete with th'ambassatours of the
Duk of Borgoigne for reparation of attemptats ^ as unto .
tharchbisshop of Coloyne for suche matiers as we have
charged him with in yat partie j We wol and charge you
yat unto ye said Maister Thomas ye paye dayly wages
of XX. s. for a quartre of yere j to have by way of reward
for his costes and expenses in yat partie. Yeven Ic. at
Leycestre the ix. day of May the yere 1c. xxviij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum Consilii sui.
Langport.
llbid. art. 61. 17th May, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved j We late you Mrite that
we have understande by sup^"* of oure right trusty and
entierly welbeloved cousin Richard due of York how
that he ye xxix. day of Septembre the xxvj. yere of
oure regne by writing endented was reteigned in oure
service to be oure lieutenant in oure land of Irland for
USa] 28 HENRY VI. 93
ye saufgard of ye same by ye space of x. yere yanne
next folowing j taking therefore ye first yere of ye same
X. yere iiij. m^ marc and every other yere thereafter
m^ m^ li* by ye handes of ye Tresourier and Chambre-
lains of oure eschequier for ye tyme being j in certain
fourme as in yendentures of ye said reteigner made
more plainly it appereth ^ of which s5mes annuel there
is due to oure said cousin iiij. m^. dcc. marcs 4 And over
thees there is due to oure said cousin the some of
vj, m*. li. and more of his certain annuites wherin he is
enherit to be paide in oure portes of London and Hull
and at the receipt of oure eschequier^ to right greet
hindering and grevous damage of ye same oure cousin j
as he saith 4 by cause wherof and for ye non payment of
ye said wages he hath right greedy empoverisshed him-
self by chevysance of good and otherwise as it is said v
Wherefore we considering ye premisses j wol and charge
you that under oure prive seel being in youre warde ye
do make oure Ires of warrant souffisant and in due
fourme directed unto oure said Tresourier and Chambre-
lains of oure eschequier charging thayme to do paye
unto oure said cousin in al goodly hast al ye said somes
of money in fourme above said to him due ^ and to make
him redy payment herafter of his wages j after ye fourme
of ye said endentures during ye said tyme of his re-
teigner in oure service t/ and thees oure Ires shal be
youre warrant. Yeven under oure signet at oure castle
of Leycestre the xvij. day of May the yere of oure
regne xxviij.
Repynghale.
(/n dorso,) To cure right trusty and welbeloved clerc Maister
Andrew Holes keper of oure prive seeL
94 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1450.
llbid. art. 96. 23rd June, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henrt T:c. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains 1c.
For as much as oure welbeloved squyer Thomas Vaghan
maist' of our ordenaunce hath as he sayd purveid and
ordained certain stuff of ordenaunce which the xx. day
of Juyn was brought with us into the feelde j that is to
say J furst ij. serpentynes and j. culverien with ix. cham-
bres and cc. shott of stones and lede j the price c^
Item V. grete rebawdkins redy for the seid feld with
X. chambres j price the pece iiij. G.
Item iiij. greter rebawdkins w^ iiij. chambres j price the
pece c".
Item ij. cartes for the said ordenance with xxx. persons
of gonners carpenters smiths masons waiting upon the
said ordenance by iij. days j w^ draweth to the some of
••••It
lUJ^
Item j. barel of culverin poud' weing xxx. 1.^ pricey*
t. XX. d.
Item ij. barel of gonpoud' conteignyng ciij. 1. j price
y* t. xij. d. J which in al the hole amounte to the some of
xlvj. t. xiij".
We therefore wol and charge you that unto the said
Thomas Vaghan ye make gode and redy payment or
sufficient assignment of the said some of xlvj. t. xiij. s.
to have it of us be way of a prest for the cause
abovesaid.
Yeven Itc. at Westmthe xxiij"^*. day of Juyn the yere
tc. xxviij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum concilii sui.
T. Kent
14500 28 HENRY VL 95
I3id. art 42. SOth June, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henri Ic. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains of oure
exchequier greting j For suche causes and considerations
as moeve us we wol and charge you that of oure tresore
ye employe for and aboute the vitailling of oure Towre
of London and suche other stufi^ as is necessarie for ye
saufgard yerof the some of c, li. Yeven 1c. at Westm
the laste day of Juyn j the yere %c. xxviij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
T. Kent.
llbid. art. 46. Ist July, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henricus Itc. dilectis et fidelibus suis Thomas Stanley
militi et Thomse Haryngton militi salutem j Sciatis quod
ob certas et arduas causas nos intime concementes assig-
navimus vos conjunctim et divisim ad omnes et singulos
ligeos nostros infra com Cestr et Lancasix cujuscumq^
status gradus seu conditionis fuerint ad laborand potentes
melioribus modis quibus poterunt arraiari armari et
muniri et eos sic arraiatos armatos et munitos in arraia-
tione hujusmodi teneri faciend ita quod ipsi in meli-
oribus apparatibus suis continue parati existant ad
veniend nobis cum pro eis duxerimus mittend ^ et ideo
vobis mandamus quod circa prsemissa di]igenterintendatis
et ea faciatis et exequamini in forma praedicL Damus
autem universis et singulis ligeis et subditis nostris com
pra&dictorum tam infra libertates quam extra tenore
prassentium firmiter in mandatis quod vobis et alteri
vestrum in executione praemissorum intendentes sint
consulentes auxiiiantes et obedientes quociens et quando
per vos seu alterum vestrum ex parte nostra fuerint re-
quisiti j In cujus rei testimoniu has litteras nostras fieri
96 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1450.
fecimus patentes. DslI Ic* apud Westm primo die Julii
anno Itc. xxviij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
Zlbid. art. 47. 12th July, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henricus Itc. Cancellario Itc. salutem j Thesaurario
suo Angliae vel ejus deputal ac dilecto et fideli suo
Thom» Tyrell militi necnon dilectis sibi Ricardo
Waller armigeris et Camerariis Saccarii sui salutem.
Sciatis quod nos de fidelitatibus et circumspectionibus
vestris plenius confidentes assignavimus vos conjunctim
et divisim ad omnia et singula bona catalla jocalia et
pecuniarum summas quae quidam se nominans Johannem
Mortymer * per se et sibi adherentes in com Kane
secum detulit et apportavit in quorumcumq^ manibus
existant seu inveniri poteiint tarn infra libertates quam
extra pro nobis et nomine nostro arestand et capiend j et
ea omnia et singula sub salva et secura custodia ad opus
nostrum juxta sanas discretiones vestras ponend et quo
vobis melius videbitur ducend et transferend j et tales et
tantas summas inde talibus personis de quibus vobis
visum fuent ad utilitatem nostram et regni nostri prae-
sertim circa captionem praedicti Johannis Mortymer et
sibi adherentium exponend. £t ideo vobis et vestrum
cuilibet mandamus quod circa praemissa diligenter inten*
datis et ea facial et exequamini in forma praedicta.
Damus autem universis et singulis vicecomitibus ma-
joribus ballivis constabulariis mynistris ac aliis fidelibus
ligeis et subditis nostris tam infra libertates quam extra
tenore praesentium firmiter in man datis quod vobis et
' Vide Fcedera, vol. xi. p, 275, and the next article.
1450.] 28 HENRY Vf. 97.
cuilibet vestrum in executione praemissorum assistentes
siDt obedientes auxiliantes et confortantes in omnibus
diligenter. In cujus ^c. Dal Itc. apud Westm xij.
die Julii anno 1c. xxviij®.
De mandate Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
llbid. art. 47. 14di July, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henrt Ic. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains of
oure eschequer greting v We wol and charge you that by
all the weyes and meenes to you possible j ye putte you
withoute delay or tarrying in youre devoir and diligence
for to recovere take and recey ve alle suche goodes as that
fals traytour oon callyng him self John Mortymer late
brought in to oure towne of Rochester or that in any
wyse belonged unto him be it gold silver in coyne or
plate clothes of gold arras or any other good what ever it
be J the whiche so recovered hadde take and receyved by
you we woll yat ye so reule and demene it as it may be
to the moost profit and avayle of us and this oure lande ^
and faillith not herein in any wise as ye desire the good
of us and of oure saide land. Yeven 1c. at Westm the
xiiij. day of Juitt j the yere 1c. xxviij**.
De mandate Regis per avisamentum Consilii.
Langport.
llbkL art 44. 17th July, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henry 1c. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains' of oure
eschequer greting j We wol and charge you that unto oure
ryght trusty and welbeloved clerc Maistre Andrewe
Hooles keper of oure privie seal whom late agoo we by
thadvis of oure counsail for certaine causes sent to speke
VOL. VI. H
98 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1450.
with him yat called him capitaigne of Kent whom er he
couth finde he sought as well in Sussex as in Kent j ye
doo paye x. li. to have of oure yefte by way of reward for
his costes and expenses in yat behalf ^ also we wol and
charge you that unto the same Maistre Andrew nowe
commyng towards us with certaine letters of credence
from oure counsaill ye doo paye of oure tresore x. li. to
have of oure yefle for the costes and expenses that he
shall here and susteigne in that partie. Yeven 1c. at
Westm the xvij. day of Juytt j the yere Itc. xxviij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
Ubid. art. 50. 18th July, 28 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henry Ic. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains of oure
exchequier .; We wol and charge you that unto all yoo
persones and everiche of hem that late by force of
oure letters of commission yede unto Rochestre in Kent
for to arreste certain goodes yat were late in ye gover-
naunce of oon John Mortimer traitoure callyng himself
capitaigne of Kent and to other persones that did service
to ye same end and entent ye paie for the costes and
expenses yat yai have borne and susteigned in yis
behalf. Yeven 1c. at Westm ye xviij. day of Juill j the
yere Itc. xxviij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii j prae-
sentibus Dominis Cancel! Cant WintofI Custod
privati sigilli Scales Fastalf *lc.
Langport.
liSaj 28 HENRY VI. 99
lllnd. art. 45. 18th July, 28 HeiuVI. 1450.]
Ubnry Ic. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains of oure
eschequier gretyng j For asmoch as oure right trusty and
welbeloved clerc Maistre Andrewe Holes keper of oure
privie seal hath to make a certaine journey in oure
service and is distitut of hors j we woU and charge you
that unto him ye delivere by waye of lone for the said
journey vj. hors yat late that traitour calling him capi-
taigne of Kent hadde and nowe been in youre warde.
Yeven *lc. at Westm ye xviij. day of Juill j the yere Ic.
xxviij.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
ZIbkL art. 65. 24th Aagust, 28 Hen-VI. 1450.]
H£NRY by the grace of God King of Englande and of
Fraunce and Lord of Irlande^ to the Tresorer and
Chamberlains of oure excheqyer greting ^ For asmoch
as in tyme passed for such necessitees as we then had
certayne oure jeulx were leyde in gage • for a certain
somme of money unto the moost reverent fadre in God
John archebisshop of Canterbury and other of thexe-
cutours of the Lord Fanhop passed to God./ among
vrji^ch jeuelx oon was a coler called Ikylford coler
which lay for v*. marc./ the which coler at oure desire
was without any payement or assignement of the said
v*.'marc delivered ayen unto us ayenst the coronation
of oure moost entierly welbeloved wyf the QueeneJ we
wol and charge you that unto the said moost reverent
fader in God and to his coexecutores ye doo make paye-
memt or sufficient assignement of y* v^. marc abovesaid
H 2
100 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [14s5a
as reason is, Yeven undre oure prive seal at Westm
the xxiiij. day of August j the yere of oure regne xxviij.
Langport.
\Ibid. art. 66. 25th August, 28 Hen. VI. 1450.]
Henry 1c, to the Tresorer and Chamberlains of oure
eschequier greting ^ We wol and charge you that unto
Artoys king of armes of oure right trusty and wel-
beioved cousin the Duchess of Burgoigne late commyng
towards us from hir with certaine letters and message
ye doo paye c. §• to have of oure yefte by waye of re-
warde for ye cause abovesaide. Yeven Itc. at Westm
ye XXV. day of Aust •/ the yere 1c. xxviij.
[iUi. art. 67* apparently 25th August, and apparently in the
28th Hen.VI. 1450.]
Henry Ic. to oure trusty and welbeloved Thomas
Tudeham knight keper of oure greet warderobe greting^
We wol and charge you that unto oon Gerard Boot
monke of Chartrehouse confessour unto the Queue of
Scotts nowe being in oure citee of London ^ the whiche
late was spoyled upon the see by oure subgitts as he
sayth in retoumyng from Scoteland into flandres j ye
deliver xx*^. yerds of lyne blakke clothe to have of
oure yifte by waye of rewarde j and we wol that thees
letters be unto you hereinne sufficient warrant and yat
by the same ye have therof due allouaunce in youre
accounte. Yeven Ic. ut supra.
1450.] 28, 29 HENRY VI. JOl
llbieL art. 68- apparently 25th August, 28 Hen. VI. 14f50.]
H£NRT 1c. to the Tresourer and Chamberlains of oure
eschequier greting j For asmoche as we have graunted
unto the bailliefs and citezeins of oure citee of Rochestr
xl. fi. of ye goodes that that fals traitour John Cade
calling him Mortymer late broughte to oure saide citee
now belonging unto us by way of forfaiture for to make
therwith the estgate of ye same citee next towards
Caunterbury^ we wol and charge that unto William
Appuldurfeld for and in the name of ye said baillifs
and citezeins and to ye use abovesaide ye delivre the
«aid xl. E, to have of oure yefte by way of rewarde for
ye said cause. Yeven 1c. ut supra.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii .; prae-
sentibus Dominis Cart Cancett Cantuarien Lon-
doii Hereford Duce Buck Thes Rivers "Ic.
Langport.
Acta be Anno Vicesimo nono.
[Additional MS. 4610. art. 43. a modern Dranscripi,
Writ to the Treasurer and Chamberlains of the Exchequer^ dated
Srd October, 29 Hen.VI. 145a]
Henri by ye grace of God King of Englande and
of Fraunce and lord of Irlande j to the Tresorere and
Chamberlains of oure eschequier greeting j We wol and
charge you that unto oure right trusty and right wel-
beloved cousin Edmond duke of Somers the which now
late toke in Kent a risare ayenst oure pees .; oon John
Smyth that called himself capitaigne of Kent j the which
made yere a grete gadering of people ayenst oure pees
H 3
102 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [liSa
and contrarie to oure lawes^ ye paie and delivere for
that cause of oure reward xl.U. ^ and also for asmoche
as we sende at yis tyme ayene unto Kent oure said
cousin for to see and ordeigne that good rest and pees
be among oure people yere and to chastise ther ye con-
trarie labourers yerof ^ we wol and charge you that for
every day that he shal so be in oure said service from
the day of his departing for this cause from London
unto the day of his retoume ayen to London eyther day
accounted ^ ye paye and delivere to him of oure tresore
XX. marc of oure reward w^oute any other accounte
yelding therfore^ savyng only of a certificat undre his
seal to you to be directed j dojmg you to wite therby
how many dayes that for the cause abovesaid he was in
Kent Yeven undre our privie seal at oure paloys of
Westm the iij, day of Octobr^ the yere of oure reigne
xxix.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, £. iii. f.97. Original
Ibid. 12th October, 29 Hen. VI. 1450.]
Henry 'Ic. to the Tresorer and Barons of oure
eschequier greting ^ We have understande that howe be
it that oure welbeloved Witt de la Barre chappellayn
administratour of the goodf and catalles of Lowys late
administratour of the bysshoprich of Ely^ hath payed
and contented us long tyme passed for an hors witli a
sadett and a brydelt j an hat j a cloke j a ryng j a cuppe j a
lavour J and also for a mute of houndes ^ the whic% were
the said late ministratour of the church of Ely to us by
ryght and custume of olde tyme hadde and used / per-
teignyng j as in our tres undre our signet writen in our
I45a] 29 HENRY VI. 103
castett of Wyndesore the xxvj. day of Septembre the
yere of our regne xxv. remaignyng in our said esche*
quyer of recorde it is conteignecT aB at large ^ yet never-*
thelesse ye as it is said forbere not to make out processe
alway ayenst the said Wilt for the same duete whiclb
is payed as is abovesaid j unto his greet hurt and pre-
judice and ayenst reason and conscience. Wherfbre we
wol and charge you and everich of you that ye surseese
utterly from hens forth of such processe makyng ayenst
the said WiB and him to acquite and discharge utterly
ayenst us and our heires in our said eschequier for the
said cause for ever more ^ Wylling furthermore and de-
creing by thees our Ires that aS such processe with the
dependences as hath be made ayenst the said Wilt sith
the date of our said tres of sygnet for the said cause
be voyde and of non effecte* Yeven 1c. at Westm the
xij. day of Octobre ^ the yere 1c. xxix.
De man*** Regis
ilii. J
p avisa***' sui Consilii. J Langport.
[Bibl. Cotton. Titus, £. vi. f. 231 b. OrigvnaL
Writ to the Keeper of the privy seal, 23rd December, 29 Hen.VI. 1450.]
Right* trusty and welbeloved 4 Forasmuche as we be
acertained that a servaunt longing to oure right trusty
and welbeloved the Lord Scales [called Hugh of Forde]
during the tyme of this oure parlement was comitted
to the warde of oure Conestable and Mareschal of
Englande ^ We therfore wolling the priveleges of oure
parlementez to be observed and kepte 4 wol and charge
you that under our prive seel being in yo' warde ye
do make oure tres directed to pure Conestable and
H 4
104 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1460-1
Marschal abovesaide charging and comaunding theym
to late the serv*unt abovesaide to go at large for the
tyme that oure parlement shal endure ^ and thees oure
fres shal be yo' warraunt. Yeven under oure signet at
cure palois of Westmynstr the xxiij. day of Decembr ^
the yere of oure reigne xxix.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. v. f. 150. Original,
Writ to the Treasurer and Chamberlains of the Exchequer, 25th Ja-
nuary, 29 Hen. VI. 14<5L]
Henry Ic. to the Tresorer and Barons of our esche-
quyer greting^ For certaine causes and consideracons
suc6 as moeve us^ we wol and charge you J^at notw*-
standing any tres or warant directed unto you from
us afore this tyme or here after to be directed! for sur-
seessing of any processe making or proceding to juge-
ment sauf oonly sucb as passeth by J^avis of oure coun-
saiS^ ye not forbere^ but procede effectuelly in aS
matiers touching us after the cours of oure lawe and ye
said eschequyer^ and failleth not herin in any wyse.
Yeven Ttc. at Westm the xxv. day of January the yere
1c. xxix**.
Lanoport.
[Additional MS. 4610. art. 177. a modern Tran$cript.
Proceeding of the Council, 6th May, 29 Hen.Vl. 1451.]
Henrt Ic. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains of oure
exchequyer greting ^ For as moch as we send at yis tyme
oure welbeloved Clarenceux heraulde of arme w* certaine
letters of sauf conduy te into Scotlande for such ambas*
1451.] 29 HENRY VI. 105
satours of ye King of Scotts as shall meete w^ oure
commissioners at Newcastell for reparation of attemptats
and oyer matiers such as we have committed unto yaim 4
we wol and charge you yat unto ye said Clarenceux ye
doo paye c. s. to have of oure yeft by way of reward
for his costs and expenses yat he shall have for ye
cause abovesaid. Yeven 1c* at West the vj. day of May y
the yere 1c. xxix.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
[Bibl. Cotton. CleopatiHy F. vi. f. 423. cowfem/wtigfy M.S.
Indenture, containing a list of jewels which were delivered to John
Wynn, citizen and jeweller, of London, by command of the Lords of
the Council, to which the date of the 20th May, 29 Hen-VL 1451,
is assigned in a modem hand, but it does not appear upon what
authority.]
Tkis indenture made betwix John FowtreS on that
con ptie and John Wynne citizein and jueller of Lon-
don on that othr ptie 4 witnesseth that wher the King
oure souvain lord by his Ires patentf of c5mission under
his greet seel hath yeve to the said John Wynne
amongf othr thingf in the same conteigned 4 powair to
receive of the Tresorer of Englande and of al othr alle
man! of juelx that the said Tresorer or any othr on the
Xingf parte and to his use and necessitee wol take to
the same John Wynne any juelx as in the saide tres it
is conteigned more at large 4 It is so that the said John
Foutrelt seing the said cdmission and knoweing that
theifecte therof was oonly for J^e setting over in the
Kingf fvice into Guyenne for J>e defence \ savacon of
it of the Lord Rivers It of his rqtenue 4 and willing ]^
106 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1451.
said setting oV spially to be dooii 4 therfore at }?espial
desire of J)e Lordf of J?e Kingf counseil J>e said John
Poutrelt hat& delived to the same Jo&n Wynne such
juelx as mencon is made of herafter j the whicb jeulx were
delived by the Lord Say late Tresorer of Englande to
the said John Poutrelt for his suertee of paiemet of
vj^ li. J'at he late lened unto \^ King j )>at is to say 4 a
tabulet of gold w^ an ymage of Saint George gamisshed
with a ruby \ viij. diamoundes and on the oon pte
of the ymage is an angel holding an helme gamisshed w^
a ruby and litil pies j and on the othr pte a maide kneling
w^ a lambe gamisshed w^ a ruby^ and above the said
tabulet is an ymage garnisshid w^ xxij. balais xxv.
saphires iij. emeraudf Iv. greet perles and iiij'^ ix. pies
of lesse sorte and with many othr smale pies weiyng
iij^'. xix. unc q^rr • Also a saler of gold coured and wroght
w^ flowres de lyse gamisshed w^ xiiij. bales xv. saphires
xxiiij. troches 4 evy troche iij. perles^ and w* many othr
smal pies j and in pe mydel and w4n the said salere is a
serpentz tong and oon pece of an unicorae home wey-
ing iiij. lb. vij. unS iij. q^rus. Also a greet cupe of golde
coved and chased gamisshed w^ ix. saphafires ix. peticotf
xviij. troches j evy troch of iiij. perles j and upoii the top a
gentilwomaii kneling j and in the middis and in the said
cuppe is a serpentz tong and a pece of an unicoraes home
weying iiij''. xiij. unc. Also an othr cuppe of golde couPed
and gamisshed w^ 1. rubies % xliiij. pies and the topet
gamisshed w^ ij. saphires It viij. pies veiing xlix. unc \ a
q"rr. Also a nothr cuppe of golde couv'ed ^ enameled w*
divs ymages and gamisshed w^ ij. baleys iiij. saphires I
Ixxvi. pies weying Ixxiij. unc and iij. q^r^s. Also a standing
potte couved of silv gilt w^ an handel made in maner of
wrethes weying xij. lb. viij. unc iij. q*r? 1 dL Also a potte
of the same sorte weying xiy. tb. ix. unc t di and di
1451.] 29 HENRY VI. lO/
q*rr. Also a pot of )>e same sorte wejing xiij. tb. iij. unc
dil di a quarts alle the whicb juellx I the said John
Wynne confesse by thees that for 'pe said cause I have
received theira of the said Powtrelt. In wittnesse wherof
1c«.
[Additional MS. 4610. art. 176. a modern Trasueript.
Petition to the King, 28th June, 29 Hen. VI. 145 L]
To the Kyng oure souveraygn lord.
Besechen mekely youre pouer lieges Thomas Can3mge8
and William Hulyn late shireffes of youre citee of
London to concidre that whet as by your commandement
diverse and severell writtes have be directed unto them
undre youre grete seal! commandyng hem such tyme as
they occupied the seyd oflSce^ by oon of your seyd
writtes to send and delyver a quarter of oon Niclas
Jakes atteynt of high treson ^ to the Maire and bailliefs
of youre citee of Chichestre in the countee of Sussex j
and by another of the said writtes to send and de-
Hver another quarter of the seyd Niclas Jakes to the
bailliefs of Rochestre in the shire of Kent ^ and another
to Portesmouth j and another quarter to Colchestre j
and by another of youre said writtes to send and de-
lyver the heed of oon Thomas Cheyny feyning him silf
an heremite cleped Blewberd atteynt of high treson j to
the Maire and bailliefes of youre citee of Canterbury j
and by another of your sayd writtes to sett up a quarter
of the sayd traytour cleped Blewberd upon a yate of
London j and to send and delyver another quarter of the
same traytour to the sheriefes of youre citee of Norwich ^
108 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1451.
and to send and del3rver two other quarters of the same
traitour to the wardens of youre v. portes or to their
lefilenauntes ^ and by another of your said writtes to
drawe the body of another tray tour callyng him silf John
Rammesey wyne drawer ^ and to send and delyver a
quarter of hym to Stamford and another quarter of him
to Covyntre ^ and another quarter of hym to Newbury ^
and another quarter of hym to Wynchestre ^ and also by
other severell youre writtes commandyng them to sett
up iij. severell heedes of the persones abovesayd upon
London Brugge 4 and by another of youre seyd writtes
to do drawe the body of a grete traytour namyng him
silf Mortymer upon an hurduU by the stretes of your
citee of London and his head to set on London Brugge 4
and by another of your seyd writtes to send and delyver
a quarter of the seyd traytour called Mortymer to the
constables of the hundred of Blakheth 4 and by another
of youre seyd writtes to send and delyver another quarter
of the seyd traytour called Mortymer to the Maire and
shireffes of the citee of Norwich 4 and by another to
send and delyver another quarter of the same traytour to
the Maire of the citee of Salesbury 4 and another quarter
of the same traytour to the baiiiefs of the towne of
Gloucestre^ the which youre high commandements by
youre sayd late shireffs were duly execute to there grete
charges and costes and especially for there cariages of
the quarters aforsayd and the hed of the same Thomas
Cheyny ^ for and by cause that unneth any persones durste
nor wolde take upon ham the caridge of the seyd hed
and quarters for doute of her lyves 4 Plese hit therfore
un to youre highnesse to command your gracious letters
of pry vy seall to be directed to the Tresorer and Barons
of your eschekker commandyng them that in thaccountes
tliat the seid Thomas and William ben to yeld unto you
1451.] 29 HENRY VI. 109
by cause of ther office they allowe unto them of the
feerme of the same youre citee and of the counte of
Middlesex and of the issues profitts and comodities
com3n3g and growyng of the seyd youre citee of London
and of the countee of Mydd all such sommes of monay
as that they and eyther of them or any for them or in
ther name accountyng for them wol make feith that hath
be by them and eyther of them spend and paid for and
aboute the execution of your commandements above
seyd and of everich of them j and your seyd besechers
shall pray to God for you.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii apud
Westm xxviij. Junii anno xxix.
Langport.
[Auf. art. 178.
Proceeding of the Council, 5th July, 29 Hen. VI. 1451.]
Henry tc. to the Tresourer and Chamberlains of
cure eschequier greting^ We wol and charge you yat
unto Snadon heraulde late comyng from oure cousin the
Kyng of Scotts towards us with certain letters j ye do
paie c. s. to have of oure yefte by waye of reward for
his costes and expenses had and suffired by him in yat
partie. Yeven 1c. at Westm ye v. day of Juyl ^ the yere
1c. xxix.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
{JOnd. art. 171. 24th July, 29 Hen.VI. U51.]
Henry 1c. to the Tresourer and Chamberlains of oure
eschequier greting 4 We late you wite that where as our
trusty and welbeloved knight S' Henry Redford prisoner
110 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, £145U
unto cure ennemyes j havyng noo goods wherwith to con-
tente his finaunce ^ whiche of long time hath contynued
and doon to us trewe and diligent service in oure reaume
of Fraunce and duchie of Normandie and other tymes
afore this there hath he prisoner and payed greet finaunce
and had greet and importable losse of his goods in other
wises J we of oure benigne and ample grace by thavis of
oure counsaille in consideration of the premisses have
graunted unto him vj*^. saluz to be rebated upon thobli-
gations of the Due of Orleaunce and suche as ben
bounde for him for his finaunce whanne he was prisoner
here j the which obligations remaigne in your warde in
oure tresorie. We wol therfore by thavis of oure said
counsaille and charge you that to the said S'* Henry ye
delivere an obligation of William de Harecourt erle of
Tankerville of \j'°^ saluz being in youre saide warde
amonge other obligations for the finance of the said
Due of Orleaunce as is abovesaid j to have of oure yifte
for the causes above reherced ^ and yees oure letters shall
be unto you sufficient warrant and discharge. Yeven
tc. at Westm the xxiiij. day of Juyl j the yere %c.
xxix.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
llbid. art. 174^ 2nd August, 29 Hen. VI. 1451.]
Henricus 1c. Thesaurario et Camerariis de scaccario
nostro salutem ^ Ob certas causas et considerationes nos et
consilium nostrum moventes volumus et vobis mandamus
quod certas evidenc et munimenta in custodia vestra
infra thesaurariam nostram existeil de quibus in articulis
quos vobis mittimus prsesentibus interclusos fit mentio ad
nos et dictum consilium nostrum in civitatem nostram
1451.] 29 HENRY VI. HI
Cantuarien adducatis adducive facialis omni acceleratione
accommoda. Dat. Ic. apud civitatem nostram Cantuarien
secundo die Augusti anno Ic. xxix^
M*. quod Wittmus Kynwolmerssh clericus liberavit
in recep? scaccarii xij®. die Octobr anno vij°. Regis
H. V. unam indenturam factam Cales xiij^ die Julii anno
Domini miBimo ccccxix®. per Wiltmum Bardolf militem
et alios ambassiatores Regis de tractatu pacis inter regnum
Angliae et partes flandris.
M^. quod ix®. die Octobr anno xiiij®. Regis H. vi**.
Radus dominus CromweS Thes Angliae et Cameraf de
scaccario receperunt de David Breknoke per indenturam
unam cistam in qua sunt diversi libri facient mentionem
de divers appuncl fact inter Reges Anglis et Franciae et
eciam sacrm et juramentum factum per Ducem Burgundise
ad perimplend et observand concord factam inter Karolum
Regem Franc et Henricum Quintum nuper Regem
Anglia;.
M*. quod viij°. die Julii anno regni Regis Henrici
vj**. xx^*®. Magister Thomas Kent clericus consilii dicti
Domini Regis liberavit in thesaurar Regis ix. scripta
de treugis ac de prorogal treug cap£ inter dictum
Dominum Regem et Phm Ducem Burgund et af.
M^. quod x^. die Octobr anno regni Regis Henric
v^. tercio recepl fuerunt in recepl scaccarii iiij®'. litterae ^
una littera pacis Duds Burgundies sigillat sigillo suo ^
et alia littera Karoli Regis FrancisB sigillo suo sigillat j
et unus tractal inter Regem Angt et quatuor membra
Fiandr J et una littera Regis Angliae.
De mandato Regis per avisamentii sui Consilii^ prsesenl
Dominis Car^* Custode privati sigilli.
Langport.
112 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1451-
[ Attf. art. 103. 16th August, 29 Hen.VI. 1451.]
Henry Ic. to the Tresorer and Chamberlains of
cure eschequyer greting 4 Forasmoche as oure trusty and
welbeloved John Lord Beauchamp hath now late by
ouro commaundement for shippyng and setting over to
oure towne of Calays of certaine men of armes and
archers by wey of a trewe for the seurtie and savegard
of our said towne the some of xxxix^ as by parcelles
thereof the which we sende you closed here within as
may appere all at large.; we wol and charge you that unto
the said Lord ye make repayement of the said xxxix^ soo
by him on our behalfe payed as is above rehersed. Yeven
1c. at Cant the x\j. day of Augusts the yere Itc. xxix.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum Concilii.
Langport.
My Lord Seudeley.
In the Cateryn of Calice
vj". men xxiv. shipmen It y® mast^
om* XXIV. u. vj. s. vuj. a.
Belknape.
In the Mary of Sandwiche
viij". men xxiv. shipm. \ a grome - Sm* iv. li. v. s.
Seint Barbarbe.
Husy.
In the Gooste of Sandwich
ix". men xxij. shipm* Tt y* m' - - Sm* iv. Ti.
S'WiltCrafford.»l
Horewode. J
In the balynger of Rye
xl. men x^. shipmen w*** y« m' - Sum Ivj. s. viij. d.
In the Passynger of Calice
c. men xiv. shipm. w*^ y* m' - - -Suml. §•
^ Sic ; but query i Trafford.
}
1451.] 29 HENRY VI. 113
Witney 1
SalfordJ
In the Lord Skales balyng'
c. men xviij. shipm. w^ the m^ - Sum Ixiij. s. iiij. d.
Sire Tho. Fyndarne.
In the James of Calice
cc. men xxiv. shipm. t a grome - Sum iiij. t* v. s.
In the Isabel of Clyfton
xl. men xvj. shipm. w**" y* m*^ * Sum Ivj. s. viij. d*.
In Selby ys balyng'
xl. men xiiij. shipm. w*^ y* m' - - Sum 1. §•
In Alfrey ys balyng'
xl. men xij. shipm. w*^ y* m"^ - Sum xliij. s. iiij. d!.
In Petyt Crayer
XXX. men w*^ hors vij. shipm, w*^ y® m*^
Sum xxvj. s. viij. d.
Item in y® Mary of Sandwich
c. men xx. shipm. 1 y* m"^ . • Sum iiij. C,
Item for the costs and expenses of'
Thomas Bumell being at Sand-
wich for iij. days to contente and
pay the said shipmen
Sum xvj. s, vuj. a.
Summa - xxxix. t
VOL. VI,
114 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1452-
Acta de Anno Tricesimo.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. vi. f. 423. OrigmaL
Warrant to the Keeper of the privy seal, dated 15th February,
30 Hen.VL 1452.]
Righ't trusty and welbeloved j We wol and charge you
that under oure prive seel beyng in youre warde ye doo
make our Ires in fourme fol owing ^ Henry Ic. to the Tre-
sourier and Chamberlayns of oure escliequiergretyng./ We
considering that where by vertue of oure Ires of prive seel
directed'to the Tresourier and Chamblayns of oure esche-
quier theer were delived oute of oure tresory the xix. day
of Janyuer in the xxviij. yeer of oure regne by them unto
thandes of James Fenes knight lorde Say than oure Tre-
sourier of England j nowe ded j certain oure juelx ^ as in
tbendentures therof made betwix oure said Chamberlayns
and hym j wherof J>at oon partie was by hym seeled re-
mayning in youre kepyng it apperetfi more at large j
And we considering J^at where the iij*®. day of Fevrier the
xxviij. yeer of oure reigne theer was lent unto us by oure
welbeloved fvant Jo6n Poutrett [j>e] some of vj*^. ti. for
whoos surete of repaiement therof theer were delyved unto
hym by the Tresourier and Chamberlayns of oure esche-
quier certain tailles rered at J>e receipte of oure eschequier
\>e X. day of ]?e said moneth of Fevrer j and also by the
. said Lord Saye than oure Tresourier certain juelx j as in
thappele of the receipte of oure eschequier it apperetft ^
the whicti juelx we knowe for certain were parte of oure
said juelx that were delived by vertue of ])e said oure Ires of
prive seel unto Jje said Lord Say j And we considre also
that where by oure Ires patentf of c5mission under oure
greet seel made the xv. day of May the xxix. yeer of oure
reigne j trustyng on ]?e feitfe and circumspeccon of oure
welbeloved John Wynne citezen and jueller of London ^
I Vide pp. 105-107, antea.
14520 30 HENRY VL 115
have assigned hym and comitted to hym power to receyve
of cure Tresourier of Englande and of alle ottir personnes^
suclb and as manyjuelx as the same Tresourier or any ot&r
on oure partie for us and to our use wold delyve him j as
by the copie of the same c5mission the which is herto
annexed more playnly it may appere j And furthermore
we considre J^at now late to oure relief and ease and for
partie of paiement of J>e wages of J^e Lord Rivers and his
souldeours late reteyned with us for to goo into oure
duchie of Guyenne ^ at the desire of us and of the lordf
of oure counseii the said Jolin Poutrelt delived to the said
John Wynne after the date and sight of oure said comis-
sion for oure use and necessite j thabovesaid juelx to him
delyred by thabovesaid oure Tresourier j the which we
knowe for certain bethe suche as mencion is maad of in
an denture maade of the receite and delivaunce of hem
betwix J'e said John Wynne and J^e said John Poutrelt j
of ]>e which endenture the copie is herto annexed ^ and
\^ which juelx we knowe for certain beth al and the same
juelx ])at were delived by the said Lord Say to the said
John Poutrelt as above ^ And we woUing therfore the said
John Poutrell discharge and acquite ayeinst us oure heires
\ executours for ever of J?e same juelx and of every parcel
of hem J wol for so moche and charge you J^at ye do cancel!
adnul and with drawe in the said appele of oure receipte al
)»tthat by any moien is entred or writen therin that miglit
cause the said John Poutrelt to be answerable or chargeable
to us or to oure heires or executours of )?e said juelx or any
peel of them. Yeven Ic.j And thees oure tres shal beyo'
warrant Yeven under oure signet at oure palois of Westm
the XV. day of Fevrier the yeer of oure reigne xxx**.*
BOWDON.
» The indorsement, being pasted down, is illegible.
I 2
116 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL. [1452L
[Additional MS. 4611. art. 6. a modern TVarncr^
Letter from the King to Lord Cobham, dated 17th February^
30 Hen. VI. 14552-]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved j Howe be it that we
trowed that ye according to youre dewte hadd be and
wolde have be awayting upon us as other lordes that but
late agoo was called to come to oure counsaille doo and
entended upon us and to oure service./ as oure trewe
liegeman oweth to doo^ namely considering the grete
untrouthe and disobeissaunce that is ment and pur-
posed ayenst us and ayenst oure astate and ayenst oure
universell pollice and welfare of this oure lande j the
whiche with the grace of oure Lord shall not take suche
effect as the auctours and labourers therof purpoos and
entende j but shalbe so rebuked and chastised as it shall
be to the plesir of God and to the worship of us and to
the wele of this oure reaume. Neverthelesse ye will-
fully absent you from us and withdrawe you otherwyse
thanne ye owed in anywise to doo. We therfore write
unto you cbarging you straitely upon the feith and
ligeaunce that ye owe unto us j that incontinent seen
thees oure letters ye w*oute delay or tarrying come to
oure presence there to awaite upon us and do service
suche as it fitteth oure trewe ligeman./ and namely of
youre astate and degree for to doo j and failleth not so
to doo as ye woU eschewe oure indignation and the peril I
that may ensewe therof. Yeven 1c. at Westm the xvij»
day of Feverer the yere 1c. xxx.
To oure right trusty and welbeloved the Lord
Cobham.
T. Kent
De mandato Regis
per avisamentum sui Consilii.
1452.] SO HENRY VI. II7
[Bibl. Harl. 1878. f.2. Original.
Warrant to the Keeper of the privy seal, 8th March, SO Hen. VI. 1452.]
By the Kyng.
Righ't trusty and welbeloved j We late you wite Jiat
we have wele understande by a supp^^ pnted unto us on
the behalve of pe Mair and burgeises merchauntf of
cure towne of Newecastel upon Tyne j that whereas the
woUes hides and wollefelles growing in oure countees of
Northumbreland Westmerland and Cumbret and in ]>e
bisshopryke of Duresme were no staple ware ne might
here pe charges and costf of our staple of Caleis j and
Jwit we heretofore by our Ires patentez have lycenced
the saide Mair and burgeises that they and thair pre-
decessours shulde bye and selle ]>e saide woUes hides and
wollefelles and thayme to shippe wHnne our port of our
saide towne and from theins thayme to cary and lede
unto Brugges in Flaundres and unto the towne of
Midelburgh in Zelande^ payeng therfore pe custumes
subsidies and devoirs due and accoustumed j as in oure
saide tres patentf it may appiere more at large. It is
so }^t oure saide Ires patentf so made unto thayme by
force of an acte made in our parlement holden at Westm
the xij. day of Fevrier pe xxvij. yeer of our regne were
revoked and adnuUed unto pe ppetuel hurt of pe saide
Mair and burgeisis merchauntf and of alle othr oure
liege peuple of pe saide countees and bisshopryke pat
were accoustumed for to bye and selle pe saide woUes
hides and wollefelles and to have thair sustentacon by pe
same j Wherfore we considering as wele the premisses as
pe grete and manyfolde charges pat pe forsaide Mair and
burgeises susteigne and here dailly and yeerly in thair
ferme payeng unto us and for pe defence of our saide
towne ayeinst the Scottes and divers othr grete costf and
I 3
118 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [U52.
charges empoverisshing hem ful grevously as we be en-
fourmed •/ so J?at w*oute som relief be shewed unto thayme
in J^is behalve many of thayme shal be compelled of verray
necessite to voied oute of our saide towne and like to be
w*inne shorte tyme final destruccon and desolacon of J^e
same oure towne ^ whiche God defender have of our
g*ce espal graunted unto ]>e forsaide Mair and burgeises
merchantf of our saide towne of Newcastel j licence that
they and thair successours during the terme of iij. yeeres
nowe next comyng shal mowe freely and unpunisshed in
]>e porte of our saide towne by thaime and by thair
iv^ntfj bye [and shippe] shorling lambeskynnes and
calves skynnes growing of pe saide coiintees and bisshop-
ryke j and thayme so bought and shipped y to do carye
and lede unto ]fe saide townes of Brugges and Middel-
burgBi and to eitllr of thayme at thair eleccion w*oute
eny empechement impediment pturbacon contradiccon
hurte or grief of us o' heires or successours custumers
contrerolleurs sercheours or eny oj?? our officiers or
ministers what som ev they be j payeng unto us in o'
saide porte for 'pe saide shorling lambeskyns and calve-
skyns pe subsidie called pondage j J?at is to wite j xij. cT.
of J?e li. for almaner op? subsidies custumes and devoirs
unto us in J^at behalf belonging. So we wol and charge
you J?at under our prive seel being in your warde ye do
make o' Ires directed unto o' Chaunceltr of Englande
charging him J?at under o' grete seel being in his warde
he do make herupon our Ires patentf in due fo^'me j eny
statute ordonnance or act' before this tyme made or-
deigned or provided into J>e contrary notw*standing j and
thees our Ires shal be your warrant. Yeven under o*"
signet at o' palaice of Westin the viij®. day of Marche
the yeer of our regne xxx*.
BoWDON,
1452.] SO HENRY VI. Hg
[Additional MS. 4611. art. 7. a modern Transcripi,
Letter from the King to Lord Clifford, dated 14th March, SO Hen.VL
1452.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved^ We tbanke you as hertely
as we canne of the right trewe and notable service that ye
have at alle tymes be redie to doo unto us and have doo
as ofte as ye have be certiffied and lerned of oure desire
and entente in that behalf v and in especiall of the service
that ye have doo to us but late agoo j the whiche we shall
not forgete but have in remembraunce as reason wol. For
asmoche as we be from tyme to tyme as wel by letters to
suche as we owe of reason to yeve faith and credence as
by laborious and diligent enquerre and especielle lerned
that oure adversarie of France and thoo that holde his
partie be disposed with alle the spede and haast that thay
canne to come into oure marches of Calais w^ as greet
puissaunce as any was assembled in Fraunce many yeres
and with as greet ordinaunce and devyses of werre as any
man hath seen j to th'entente to subdue unto yaim oure
towne of Calais by the mene of siege and othre oure
places in the saide marches j thay trowyng sone and
w^oute grete difficultee so to mowe doo j and after that
to come into this oure reaume to ye entente to distroye
and dispoile it and the dwellers of the same j to the with-
standing and lettyng of the whiche thaire malicious pur-
poos we w* the grace of oure Lord with the helpe of you
and of oure true subjettes shall doo oure parte in suche
wyse as it shalbe to the pleasir of God to the worsship
and wele of us and this oure reaume and to the rebuke
and shame of oure saide adversaries and evill willers pur-
poos j one the greet nieane shall mowe be that we be
greetly and notabley purveyed and ordained of men and
of myght upon the see by meane of the whiche we shall
I 4
120 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [14 5«
not only with out delaie or tarrying as the caas shall re-
quire mowe goo over in oure owne persone and also lette
the leying of any siege by water to oure saide towne of
Calais and the bringing thidre of the saide ordinaunce j
but also ordaine men for to lande whenne and where it
shalbe thought available to us and ours and moost harme-
full to oure said adversaries. For execution of the whiche
meane we have ordained oure cousin th*Erle of Shroues-
bury to have the leding reule and governaunce of oure
saide puissance upon the see 4 wherto he is welle agrede
and hath taken it upon him j and have nowe w^holde and
ordeigned certayne other capitaignes and carraks to do
service in fulfilling of oure said purpoos v to furthering
of the which we have nowe ordeigned the Grace Dieu
and other shippes of oure lande in notable nombre that
be nowe in Tems Sandwich Wynchelse and in other ports
here nygh to be redy therto withoute delay or tarying 4
to ye which oure purpoos and entente we have welle
understande yat among alle oyer persones in yis oure
lande of what degree condition or estate yat yai be ye be
aswell disposed as we canne desire you for to be v wher-
fore we hertely thanke you j holding for certaine yt ye
wol so continue. For somoche we write unto you ex-
hortyng and hertely praying you yat ye as oure trust is
on you doo alle ye labour and diligence possible unto you
to enduce as many owners of shippes knyghtes squyers
and oyer personnes in ye contree yat ye enhabet and dwell
inne to ye same so as we may have cause to kune thaime
thanke and to understande yerby the desire and love yat
you have and here to the seure and saufgard of oure
saide towne of Calais and ye marche yerof and also to
th'eschewing of ye hurts and harraes yat sholde mowe
faille to yis oure lande. And to ye entente to yeve thoo
that ye shall speke unto to have ye more courage to
1452.] 30 HENRY VL 121
the fullfylling of oure desire j we exhorte require and
hertely pray yat ye wol take upon you the leding and the
bringing of the saide shippes and ye men yat yai shalbe
enforced with to the Downes of Sandewyche or to the
Canibre with all diligence and spede possible y and to
enduce such as ye shall come and mowe of the notablest
knyghtes and persones of y^ contree such as tho that shall
come with ye saide shipes wolde be reuled by to do yaire
parte w* you in ye ledy ng of ye saide shippes to oon of ye
places above saide j yevyng us knowlach of yaire names
to ye entente yat we may sende unto you and yaim oure
letters of commission suche as ye caas shall require. And
to ye ende yat yai shall ye more effectuelly entende unto
your exortation and sturyng on yis behalve we sende oure
letters under oure privee seel to suche as ye woU make
yaim to be subscribed unto of credence committed unto
you to be sayde to yaim such as shalbe thought unto you
expedient and behovefulL And for as moche as yis matier
suffreth noo delay nor tarying we wol and charge you yat
of ye disposicion towardnesse and good wille yat ye finde
in oure subjetts such as ye shall have communication
vith on oure behalf^ the which yaire disposition and
towardnesse as we trust and trewe verraily shalbe right
good J ye certiffie us in alle haaste possible after ye re-
ceyvyng of yees oure letters v of ye which we trust to
God shall growe as greet worship and wele to us and yis
oure lande and as greet a rejoising to you and oyer y*
shalbe executours of this oure desire as at any tyme hath
growe to any subjetts or dwellers of yis oure lande by any
takyng upon of ly ke service yat any of yaim hath doon to
ye same j and yat ye in noo wyse faille herein. Yeven
Ttc. att Westm ye xiiij. day of March ye yere Ic. xxx.
To the Lord ClyfTord.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Xangport.
122 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1452.
[^Ibid, art. 8. The Letter of credence alluded to in the preceding
article, 14th March, SO Hen. VI. 1452.]
By the King.
TnusTY and welbeloved j Forasmuch as we have com-
mitted to our right trusty and welbeloved the Lord Clifford
certain matiers greetly concemyng the worship and wel-
fare of oure lande and of alle oure subgetts to be upened
unto you^ we wil that in that he or any other in his
name shal shewe and declare unto you on oure behalve
in this partie ye yeve full feith and credence like as ye
herd us speke it in oure owne persone. Yeven 1c. at
Westm the xiiij. day of Marche the yere tc. xxx**.
[7&uf. art. 9. Letter from the King to Lord Clifford, dated 22nd March,
30 Hen.VI. 1452.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved ^ We grete you welly
lating you wite yat we wrote unto you but late agoo oure
letters imder oure prive seal bereing date the xiiij. day of
yis moneth of Marche j by ye whiche we lete you wite
oure purpos as towarde ye setting of a grete and notable
armee to the see for ye causes specified in ye same oure
letters j and yat as we have wele understande amonge all
the persones in yis oure lande of what degree condition
or astate yat yai be ye be as well disposed as we can
desire you for to be j the which youre noble and courage
disposicion is not lassed sith yat tyme as we have wele
understande by ye reporte of a servaunt of youres late
sent from you to th'entente to knowe oure disposicion and
ye contynuaunce yerof ./ the saide matier of ye sending of
ye which youre servaunt and ye perseveraunce of your
said disposicion we thank you as hertely as we best canne.
And as for spedy execution of oure entente and desire in
ye saide matier as toward y* that may goodly be doo by
145S.] SO HENRY VI. 123
you in thoo parties vat ye dwele in and fulfilling of ye
specialitees comprised in oure said letters late sent unto
you we sende you closed within yees an instruction con-
teynyng yadvises of us and of oure counsaille in yat
behalf^ to ye undelayed execution of ye whiche we pray
you as hertely as we can effectuelly to entende ^ and oure
Lorde have you in his keping. Yeven 1c. at Westm ye
xxij. day of Marche the yere 1c. xxx.
To oure right trusty and wel-
beloved y* Lorde Clyfforde.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
[Rid, art. 10. Copy of the Instructions alluded to in the preceding
letter.]
Th££S that folowen ben th'articles conteignyng the
thinges that we desire to be executed by oure
right trusty and welbeloved the Lord Clyfford
with thoo that been specified in the letters
directed unto him bering date the xiiij. day of
this March.
First as towards the shippes bein as nowe in that
countreej the which we desire to be encreced to be
ordeigned and if the caas require it to be arrested to
do us and this land service at this time and to be there
vitailled and manned^ the names ben such as folowe^
that is to say j your owne shippe if it be redy j the
Antony of Hull ^ the George of Hull j the Valentyne
of Hull •; tlie Trinite of Dertmouth clerk shipp j and
if for any cause resonnable any of thecs may not be
hadde or if it be thought to your discrecion any other
more behovefuU thanne sume of thees to be hadde j that
thanne ye dispose as it shalbe thought moost behovefuU
unto us.
124 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1452:
Item that ye yeve knowelach and informacion to the
owners of the said shippes and other persones of thrifte
of the right goodewille and towardnesse that we fynde
here in divers of thoo that been awners of shippes and
in other personnes to vitaille at her owne charge and
coste shippes such as ben here to ye see upon trust and
hope of ye goode that shall growe to us and to oure lande
therby and of the good fortune and lucre yt with Goddis
grace shall also growe to thaim by the same j and yer-
upon do all the diligence that ye shall mowe to enduce
such as ben owners of shippes there and othre personnes
there to doo the same j of the which as we had informa-
tion divers of thaim not long agoo were wele disposed
and welwilled.
Item for as moch as we desire algates a m\ personnes
at the leest to be hadde oute of that countree to do us
service in the said shippes y we wol that as towards yoo
that ye shall not mowe purveye at the charge of vitailling
of other personnes ye encrece and ordaine thaim to come
at oure vitailling in semblewise as we doo sume here that
is to say grauntyng thaim xij. d. a weke beside thair
wynnyng of werr such as by the custume of the see shall
mowe growe to thaim.
And to th'entente yat ye shall mowe withoute lette or
obstacle execute all that shalbe nedefuU in ye matiers
abovesaide^ we sende you forthwith thees divers our
letters patentes of commissions oon of auctoritee and
power sufficient to rule and gouveme all yoo that ye
shall bring with you for ye tyme conteigned in ye same
an othre commission to arrest shippes maistres of shippes
and mariners suche as shall nede for the rule gover-
naunce and guyding of alle the said shippes that ye shall
conduyte with you for oure said service^ and to y eve you
1452.] 30 HENRY VI. 125
ye more cause and courage effectuelly to execute this
oure desire and entente we have ordeigned yat ye shalbe
contented yerfore by way of rewarde of ye somme of
c. marc.
Item as towardes knightes and notable squiers suche
as ye shall mowe gete to accompaigny you and to have
the rule of eny oofi of the saide shippes and of ye
felasship that is therin we have appointed that he that
suche governaunce shall have shall have beside the vi-
tailling of him and of his men and beside the geting
that he shal have by the custume of ye see by way of
rewarde the some of x. marc or x. ti. after your discre-
tion.
And as towardes all such persones as ye shall have or
withholde to do service in your company we wol that ye
take of thaim such suerte as ye shall resonnably mowe
gete that yai shall entend and obeye to your commaunde-
ment and to youre rule and nothing attempte ayenst any
of thoo that be oure allies or yat stande in trewe with
as or that have oure saufconduyt but only opone oure
enemyes ye which been yees ^ ye subgits of ye King of
Castell and Lyon Bretons and all yoo y* ben subgitts of
oure adversarie of Fraunce and holde his partie excepte
ye Due of Bourgaigne w* whom we stande in trewe for
suche contrees as belong unto him and ben in his rule
and obeissance.
llbid. art. 11. Letter from the King to Lord Ponyngs warden of the
east marches towards Scotland, Sir Robert Ogle lieutenant of Tin*
dale, John Heron of Ford lieutenant of Redesdale, and Ralph Grey
lieutenant of Roxburgh, 4th May, 30 Uen.Vl. 1452.]
By the Kiog.
Eight trusty and welbeloved cosin j Ho it be that we
have understande that now late certain things prejudi-
126 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1452-
ciable and contrarie to th'efFect and tenure of the trues
and abstinences of werr beyng betwix us and oure cosin
the King of Scotts have be doo and attempted by certain
of the subgetts of oure said cosin j and namely as we ben
enfourmed suche as belong to the rewle and governance
of th'Erle of Duglasy wherof certain oure subgitts have
take occasion us not knowing to entre into the reaume of
Scottelande and to commit semble attempts v the which
if it should so at any tyme continue grete inconvenience
were like to' ensue therof j We therfor write unto you
at this tyme willing and in the straitest wise charging you
upon the faith and ligeance that ye owe unto us not w^
standing the things abosaideye by all the waies and meanes
possible unto you observe and kepe and make to be ob-
served and kept the said trewes after the tenure and con-
tinue of the same j lating you witte that if and whenne
we shalbe advised for any causes resonable no longer to
entende to the keping therof we shall late you have know-
lech of oure entent 4 before which tyme we will that upon
the pain above reherced ye ne doo nor in wise as ferr as
in you is suffice to be doo by any othre thing that shall
mowe sounde or be to the contrarie. Yeven 1c. at Westm
the iiij. day of May.
To our right trusty and weloved cosin ye
Lord Ponyngs wardein of oure estmarchis
towards Scotteland.
Item semble to Robert Ogle knight bailif
and lieuetennant of Tyndale.
Item to John Heron of Ford lieuetennant of
Reddesdale.
Item semble to Rauf Grey lieuetennant of
Rokesbourgh.
1452.] 30 HENRY VI. 127
[llrid. art. 12. Letter from the King to Lord Poynings, dated 4th May,
SO Hen, VI. 1452.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved cosin y We have under-
stande and seen and made to be seen by lords of oure
Counsail your letters late sent unto the moost reverend
fader in God John archbisshop and cardinal of Yorke
oure chaunceller conteyning how that certain things pre-
judicial and contrarie to th'efiect and tenure of the trues
betwix us and oure cosin the King of Scotts have now-
late be do and attempted by the subgitts of oure said
cousin J as in youre said letters it is expressed more at
large j and be right wel content of your advertisement
and thanke you hertly therof ./ lating you wite that we
have adressed oure letters of prive seel unto the persones
named in the same youre said letters for y'entreteyning
and keping of the said true according to your said writing
and advertisement in semble fourme and after the tenure
of such as we sende also to you with thees. Yeven 1c at
Westm the iiij. day of May.
To cure right trusty and welbeloved cousin the Lord
Ponyngs ut supra anno Ic. xxx'
>mo
[Z^ art. 13. Petition to the King, with the Answer, 2l8t May»
30 Hen.VI. 1452.]
To the Kyng oure soverain lord.
MoosT mekely sheweth unto youre highnesse Robert
Ponyngges youre true liegeman j that whereas he by
another his petition unto the same youre highnesse afore
tyme hath howe there as in tyme of his streit
emprisonement in youre Towre of London by youre
most dredfuU commaundement there was an exigend of
treson in youre court afore youre justices of Oier and
Terminer in youre shire of Kent assigned awarded ayeins
youre seid true liegeman by his defaute by reson of the
i
128 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1452.
same his emprisonement myght have saved
like as of recorde therof by youre commaundement cer-
tified into youre chancere and afterward by vertue of
youre writte sende unto youre justices for
pleynly hith appereth j in which petition was conteigned
the corapleynt of the seid youre besecher of that that
youre Eschetour of Sussex by coloure of the seide exigend
to youre most honurable handes seised alle
the godes of youre seide besecher as to you forfaited by
reson of his saide defaute j whiche as afore he myght not
save • • . • where hit youre seide highnesse
to be remembred howe ye of youre most habundant grace
granted atte seide petition of youre seid besecher that he
shuld not be endamiged his saide godes
and catall by reason of that exigend so awarded by such
his defaute y and to considere soverain lord howe that
not withstandyng youre seide gi*aunte yet
youre seide then Eschetour the seide godes and catall into
youre seid handes by reason of the seid exigend to seise
and therinne to reteign he cesseth not unto the uttermost
of youre seid besecher and ayens alle reason
gode feith and conscience y Wherefore hit please youre
seid highnesse to grante youre severel writtes of super-
sedeas to be directed Eschetours of Sussex and
Kent theim chargyng to surcesse of theire seid seisin of
the seid godes and catal and youre seid handes therof to
amoeve them delyvery youre seid besecher
withoute delay ^ and he shall pray to God and to Oure Lady
his blessed moder for youre high and right noble estate.
At Shene. This bill was commanded by the Kyng to be put to
execution after the tenure of the same 4 and was
by the Kyng taken unto ye Deaune of P
of his prive seel to make letters to the Chanc ye
xxj. day of May ye yere 1c. xxx*^ 4 present my
Lord Chanc Somerset and WyncH
1463.] 31 HENRY VI. 129
Acta de Anno Tricesimo primo.
[BibL Cotton. Titus, C. i. f. 234. Original.
Memorandum relative to the appointment of council on behalf of John
Lyalton, the appellant, and Robert Norrejs, the defendant, on an
appeal of high treason, 11th May, 31 Hen. VI. 1453.]
M*' that on the xj. day of May in the xxxj. yer of the
reign of owr sovayn lord Kyng Henr the Sext at a court
holden thene in the Whit Halle at Westm by Jolin Hanford:
knyght lieuten^nte unto the ryght noble Pnce f Edmond
due of So^s \ constable of Englond John Lyaltoii ap-
pelled Robt Norres of high treson the which he sur-
mitted to have beefi don unto owr seid souvajrri lord by
the seid Robt and the said Robt denyed that appelle
to be true j wheropoii the seid pties joyned battaitt to be
don betwix theyin and [the] xxv. day fro thene next
suyng thay wer assigned 1 limitted ther 1 by the seid
Lieutenant to do the seid bataitt in Smythfeld j and aft
that in the seid White Halle at a court holden byfor the
seid Lieuten^nte at the special request of both the seid
pties it was assigned 1 lymitted that ayther of the seid
pties shuld do that batailt w* certen weppens j that is to
say J w* gley ve short sword daggi 1 w* axe instede of
longe sword j and at the request of the seid John
Lyalton ther was assigned John Astley knyght Thomas
Parker Edward Bronfeld Thomas Mongomery 1 Laurence
Reynford squiers Philip Treher \ Thomas Parker ar-
morer for to be of counseB w* the seid John Lyaltoii for
the p^missez 1 Thomas Bee peynto^ for thyngf concernyng
the pPoiissez and also Hugh John knyght Elys Long-
worth Thomas Meryng James Hyde 1 Thomas Keyle
squiers 1 Thomas Cotton wirdrawer wer assigned to be
of counsett w* the seid Roht Norres for the p^missez and
also Everard Frer armorer 1 Piers Hulke peynto*" wer
VOL. VI. K
ISO ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, ^ [1463.
assigned to be attendant to the seid defendant as for
armyng 1 peyntur the whictl resonable shuld belonge
unto the seid defendant for spede of the p^missez j wher-
for ther ough to be made a p^ve seaB to the Chaunceller
of Englond for to directe a wiitte to the Shirefs of Lon-
don that they make redy in att thyng the place in
Smythfeld ayenst the seid xxv. day^ that is to say^
in gravelyng \ sandyng the seid place \ in makyng a
scaffold for the Kyng \ barrers "X lystez covably It suJBS-
ciantly for bataitt ther to be hadde j also ther aght to be
seraff Ires und the p*ve seatt directe unto evy psoSi
assigned or lymitted for ayther of the seid pties for to
do as it is above rehersed j also ther aght a pVe seaS
directe to the Sergeant of the Kyngf armory or to his
deputie c5maundyng hym for to ordeigne ^ p'vey suflS-
ciaunt It coveuient armor T; weppeii for pformyng of the
seid batailt.
By the seid Jotin Hanford knyght
[Additional MS. 461 !• art* 35. a modern TranBcripL
Letter from the King to Sir Thomas Stanley and Sir Thomas Haring-
ton, knights, dated 16th May, and, apparently, in the Slst Hen«VI.
1453.]
By the King.
Trustt and wellbeloved is doo us to under-
stande that oure right trusty and right welbeloved cousin
the Due of Excestre j oure right trusty and welbeloved
the Lord Egremond j and other j make greet assemblees
and gaderings of oure people to no good entent as it is
noysedy for the which cause oure right trusty and right
entierly welbeloved cousin the Due of York protectour
and defensour of this oure reaume draweth him by
\
I
H58.] 31 Hf^NRY VI. 131
th'avis of oure counsaill to thaime ward to redresse
such inordinate demeanyng and to resiste tkaire malice
if nede be. For somoche we write unto you willing and
desireing if in the contree where as ye be any persones
wolde moeve theim and resorte to the saide gaderings
that be all the meanes ye canne or may ye doo thaim in
alle wises to surceesse and over that to waite upon oure
said cousin Protectour and assiste him yf he soo com-
maunde you to doo w^ alle diligence might and poair
that ye can make for the redressing of the saide as-
sembles and evil disposed porpoos. Beside this also
we wol desire and also charge you as ye love us and
the well of this oure lande that ye so holde you in
oonhed aswell with S' Thomas Harington as alle other
that by noon occasion of difference the people take
colour to stire j in somoche as therby might ensue greet
inconvenience seyng the disposition of the said riottous
gaderings at this tyme 4 and in thoos things aforesaide ye
shall do us right good service and singuler plesir 4 latyng
you wite that in semble wyse we have writen unto oure
trusty and welbeloved Thomas Harington knight. Yeven
1c. at Westm the xvj, day of May.
To oure trusty and welbeloved
S' Thomas Stanley knyght.
Item semble to Thomas Haring-
ton knyght.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii. Pre-
sentibus Dominis Episcopis Winton Elien Norwic Lincoln
Decan Sancti Severini Duce Buck Sar Cane Exon Wygorn
Thes Angliae Comil Priore Sancti Johannis Duddeley
Stourton Ttc.
T. Kent.
K 2
132 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453.
[Bibl. Cotton. Titus, C. i. f. 236. Original
Petition of John Lyalton^ who had appealed Robert Norreys of treasoHi
with the Answers, between the llth and 25th May, 31 Hen. VI.
1463. Vide Excerpta Historica, p. 391.]
To the King our soverain lorde.
Besecheth you mekely Jolin Lyaltoii your liegeman
that it please unto your higlinesse to have in knowlegge
ho we that in the courte holden in your White Halle at
Westin byfore the right noble Prince Sir Emond due of
SoiSset and constable of Englond there appered I the seid
John Lyalton and oone Roht Norres in our ppre psones j
and I the seid John than and there appeled )>e seid
Roht of high treson by him p'posed and moeved to
have be doon unto you soverain lorde j and the seid Roht
denyed that appele to be true j wher upon [we] the seid
parties joyned bataille to be doone bitwene us j and it
was assigned there by the court holdeii upon Friday
next after the feest of Ascencion of our Lorde last
passed ^ that we the seid parties shoulde doo batailt
upon the xxv. day of Juyn next now c5myng in
Smythefeldy and after that for eyther of us J>e seid
parties by ))e courte ))?e was assigned certein wepens
w* the which we shulde fight and certein psones to be
sePally of our counseiB as for feates of armes and also
an armurer and a peyntour after the custume in the seid
courte of olde tyme used j Wherfor plese it unto your
highnesse to yeve in commaundement to the Keper of
y6ur prive sealle to make in due fourme such and as
many of your tres under your p've sealle as shalle be
necessarie for J)e spede and the pfo^myng of the
The King's autograph. ^ jyf ^y i ith.
1453.] SI HENRY Vl. 133
pmisses and of echon of theym and of alle other thingf
concern3mg pe Pmisses in any man!e wise j and he shalle
pray to God for you.
Lres herupon wer maad [to] pe persones named in
cedules herto annexid ]>e day and date in ]>e
same cedules expssed and after the tenures
in pe same cedules composed.
IIM. f.234. OriginaL
Minutes of the Council, on or about the 2Srd May, 31 Hen. VI. 1453-3
R,H.'
Be ther maad a pVe seel in due fo'me to the Chaun-
celler of Englande for to do make writtf unto the
Shiriefff of London ]>ay for to do make a skafibld for
the King ^ barrer^ \ listf sufficeant \ covenable j and also
gravel and sonde the grounde in Smithfe]de wher ]7e
bataille shalbe at }>e Kingf costf and expenses and )>ay
J>?of to have allowance in thaire ferme that thay be to
}dlde unto us for ])aire saide office.
Item be per maad an ottir pVe seel in due fourme to
Jenkyn of Stanlay sergeant of )>e Kingf armures or to
hi^deputee to do make sufficeant and
convenient armure and wepeii and deliver it to JoEin^
Lialton appellant for his fig'ht in Smit^elde.
Item be ther maad an othr tre of prive seel in due
fo'me to Thomas Bee staynyo' oofi of J>e counsail with
)ie for him at the Kingf costf and
expenses suche thingf for the saide battaille as belangeth
to his crafte.
1 The King's autograph.
K 3
I
134 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453.
I Ibid. f. 255. Original draught.
Letter from the King to Sir John Asteley knight and Thomas Mont-
gomery esquire, dated 23rd May, 31 Hen.VL 1453.]
By the K'.
Trusty and welbeloved j For asmocSi as in J?e courte
holden in o'^ White Halle at Westm befor o^ right der
and o' right welbeloved cousin Edmund due of Somset
constable of Englande upon appolc [an appelle] of high
treson ayenst o' persone batail is joyned betwix John
Lyalton appelent appellant and Roht Noreys defen-
dant to be doon in Smythfelde ]>e xxv. day of Juyn next
comyng y to J>e which John Lyalton ye be assigned to be
of counsaile j We wol J>erfor and charge you pat [J?erto]
ye attende as pe lawe of armes [axeth] and requireth j
and ])ies our Tres shal be unto you herr her inne war-
rant. Yeven 1c. at Westm pe xxiij. day of May the yer
1c. xxxj.
i John Asteley knight,
Tho*s Mungomerey squier*
\^Ibid. Letter from the King to Thomas Bee^ painter, dated 24th May,
31 Hen. VI. 1453.]
By 'pe Kyng.
Trusty and welbeloved j For asmoche as in J?e cr^orte
halden in our White Halle at Westm befor our rizt' der
and rizt welbeloved cousin Edmond due of SoSset
conestable of England upon an appelle of heigh txaison
ayenst our psone bataille is joyned betwix John Lyalton
appellant and Roht Norreys defendant to be doofiL in
[West] Smythfeld the xxv. day of Juyn next comyng j
to J)e which John Lyalton ye be assigned to be of coun-
saily we wol J>3for and charge you J)* pi to ye attendee
and also }?* ye do 1 make for pe said Lyalton such
U5S.3 SL HENRY VI. 135
}7iiigf concnyng ]7e pmisses as belanget^ to yo' craft j
and we wol Y ye leve not y and Y J^^^ ^^^ Ires be unto
you herinne sufficeant warrant. Yeveii 1c. at Westm
\t xxiiij. day of May j the yer Ic. xxxj.
To Th Bee peynto'.
\JDnd. Letter from the King to Jenkyn Stanley esquire, dated 24th May,
SI Hen.VL 1453.1
By J7e K'.
Henr' Ic. to our trusty and welbeloved squier for our
body Jekyn Stanley sergeant of our annures or to h"
deputee in the same office gretyng y For asmoch 1c. ut
sup* usqj ^ to J>e whicft et Ic. sic j we wol J)]for and charge
you Y [in alle goodely haste] at our costf \ expenses
ye do be maad \ dolived sufficeant \ convenient armur
t wepeii for J^e said bataiff and delived to ]>e said JoTin
Lyaltoii [for h' said fizt] j and we wol Y 1^^® our Ires
be unto you her inne sufficeant warrant j and Y ^y \^
same ye have [J>jof] due allouance in yo' accountf ..
Yeven ut sup*.
By ]>e K'.
Henr' to J>e Chaunceller 1c. j For asmoch ut px sup*y
we wol pjfor 1 charg you Y Y^ ^^ ^^ maad our writtf
undr our gret seal in due fourme [and accusturaed] to
be directed to J>e sherriefs of London [and of Midd] Y
nowe be j comaundyng J?eim by J)e same Y at our costf 1
expenses pei do be maad ayenst )>abovesaid xxv. day
covenably 1 sufficeantly b&ffer^ in [West] Smyttfeld
barrers 1 lystes for ]>e said bataiH j and also to ordeine
Y^ 1)8 plac wher Y 1^ ^^^ bataiH shal be j be ayenst pe
said day wel graveled and sanded y and also Y li^^ ^^
make a convenient skaffold for us to have pe sight of
pe said bataiH y and Y ^® J^ ^^^^ writtf .
K 4
• • • •
136 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453.
allouance in J)eir accountf of J>eir
offif of aH sucli costf 'I expenses
in ))" behalf. Yeven Ic. at Westm ut sup*.
llbid* f. 286. Original. Petition to the King, from John Lyalton the
appellant, with the Answer, dated 29th May, 31 Hen.VI. 1453.]
To the King our soverain lorde.
R. H.^
Besecheth' fulle mekely your true liege man John
Lyalton that where as I the seid Jolin in your quarrett
have joyned bataille w* oone Robert Norres in our ppre
psones bitwene us to be doon in Smythfeld the xxv. day
of Juyn next commyngy which day approcheth fulle nere
and I nat fully purveyed as yit of certein necessaries
and other thinges to me pteyning and moost nedefulle
for lakke of a certein of money to be hadde therfore j
that it please unto your habundant grace the pmises
considered to ordein and graunte that I your seid sup-
pliaunt may have such a certein of money as shalle like
your higllnesse to yeve and graunte unto me j and here
upon to yeve in charge and commaundement unto your
Tresorer of Englond by your Ires of prive sealle to
make paiement of pe seid money unto me in alle bastie
woise w^ out any delay or excuse j and also to yeve in
charge and comaundement unto Clampard your smytt
for such wepens as me behoveth to have for the seid
bataille under your Ires of prive sealle j and he shalle
pray to Godde for you.
J>e Ire herof was maad The King wol he have
at Westm J?e xxix. day of ^ v. mrcz j pntz my Lord of
Mayy }>e yerlc. xxxj. Worcestr tsorier of Eng-
lande and £ Phelip Went-
worth.
1 The King's autograph.
1453.] 31 HENRY VI. 137
[ii^ Petition of Robert Norreys, the defendant in the said appeal,
with the Answer, 22nd June, SI Hen.VI. 1453.]
To the Kyng oure soveyn lord.
R. H.i
Besecheth' mekly yo' pov ligemaii Ro15t Norrys that
it please yo^ highnesse to have in knowlych how that
in yo' Co't holdeii in yo' White Halle at Westm before
the ryght noble prynce i Edmond duke of Somset yo'
constable of England there appered John Lyaltofl Ht
I in owre ppre psonesv and the said John thanne \
there appeled me of high traison the whiche he sayde
I p'posed to have do unto yow soveyn lord ^ and I
denyed that appeH to be trewe j wherupoii we the saide
partyes joyned batayle to be dooii betwene us j and it
was assigned there by the co't holdeii upon Fryday next
aft the feste of the Ascencion of owre Lord last passed
that we the saide partyes sholde do batayle upon the
V xxiij. day of July next now comyng in Smythfeld j and
aft that for eyther of us the saide partyes by the court
there was assigned certayn wepenes w* the whiclie we
sholde fyghte and certayn psones to be sevally of owre
counceitt as for feates of armes and also an armorer 1
a paynto^ aft the custume of the said co't of old tyme
used :f Wherfore please it unto yo' highnesse to gyve in
comaundement unto the Keper of yo' pryve seaH to
maake in due fo'me swyche 1 as many of yo'^ lettres
under yo'^ pryve seaH as shall be necessary for the speed
"l the pfo'^myng of the p)misses and of echoii of theym
and of alle othere thynges concernyng the p)mysses in
eny manSe wyse j and he shall p*y to God for yow.
The Ire was maad herupon at Westm J>e xxij. day of
Juyfl the xxxj. yer of the Kingf regne.
' The King's autograph, which occurs twice, in consequence of the
first signature having been imperfectly written.
138 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1463.
[Ihid. f. 237* Letters from the King to various persons, respecting the
said appeal, dated 22nd June, SI Hen. VI. 1453.]
By the King.
Trusty and welbeloved y For asmoche as in the courte
holden in oure White Halle at Westm befor oure right
dere and right welbeloved cousin Edmond due of
Somerset conestable of Englande upon an appele of higti
treason ayenste oure persone j bataille is joyned betwix
John Lialton appellant and Robert Noreys defendant
to be doon in Smythfelde the morowe after Mary Mag-
dalenes day nexte comyng ^ j to the whiche Robert
Noreys ye be assigned to be of counsail j we wol ther-
for 1 charge you 1 evich of you [J>at] pito ye attende
as the lawe of armes axeth and requireth j and we wol
that ye leve not this j and thees oure Ires shalbe youre
warant. Yeven undre oure prive seel at Westm the
xxij. day of Juyn.
K semble tres to John Cotton wiredrawer Everard Frer
armo'^er and Piers Hulkf paynto^ charging thaim
pst therto ]7ay attende ut sup*^ and w^ this clause w
and also furthermor we geve you licence that to
suche J^ingf as concneth yo' crafte ye be effec-
tuelly attendante unto him and do it at his costagt
% expn J and J>ees o' Ires shalbe unto you henn
sufficeant warant. Yeven ut sup^.
To Hugh John knight
Elys Langworth
Tho»s Keyle
James Hyde
Tho*s Mering squiers.
1 July 2Srd.
I
1453.] SI HENRY VI. 139
[Ibid. f,236» The following Memorandum is written in a contem-
porary hand, on a separate piece of parchment.]
Me*' qd iu cur milicie duellu^yadiatu est int Johem
Lyalton appellanteni 1 Robtum Norres defendentem
comittenS in Smythfeld die Lune in crastino See Marie
Magd px nunc futui j t assignati sunt consiliarii p appel-
lante j vidett Jolies Astley miles Thomas Parker Edwardus
firomfeld Laurencius Reynford Thomas Mongomery ar-
mig? i Phus Treher fystUnongj e ac Thomas Parker armurer
1 Thomas Bee pictor j et silit assignati sunt consiliarii p
defendente pdco j vidett Hugo Jotin miles Elias Long-
worth Thomas Keyle Jacobus Hide Thomas Meryng
armigii Jo&es Coton wyredrawer ac Edwardus Frere
armurer 1, Petrus Hulke pictor.
llbid. f. 237. OriginaL
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 2Srd June, 31 Hen.VI. 1453-
Though dated in the 30th Hen. VL, it is certain, from the other
articles respecting this << bataille,** that that date is erroneous.]
R,H.»
Please it unto the King our soverain lorde of your
moost noble and benigne grace to graunte unto your
humble true liegemaii John Lyalton which in yo'
quareB gracious lorde hath joyned bataiH w* oone
Robert Norres in their ppre psones to be doone bitwene
theim in Smythfeld the xxiij. day of JuyB next c5myngy
that your seid suppliaunt may have ij. prive seals y that
oone to be directed unto the Sergeant of your tentes or
to the Yomafi of your same tentes in absence of the same
Sergeant for a tente or pavilon to be hadde for your
seid suppliaunt the day of the* seid bataiB j and that
1 The King's autograph.
140 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453.
Other prive seaH to be directed unto [Jotn] Clampard
your smytR yeving him in charge and comaundement
by the same to make in alle hasty wise for your seid
suppliaunt suc^ wepens as him behoveth to have for
the seid bataille j and he shalle pray Godde for you.
Lres her upon wer maad as is above desired J^e
xxiij. day of Juyn J?e xxx.^ yer Ic.
[Additional MS. 4611. art. 36. a moderD TranteripL
Letter from the King to Lord Egremont, dated 7th June> 31 Hen.VL
1453.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved ^ For certain greet
causes and considerations suche as moove usv and as
most of reson sitte us nigh to hert we will and never-
thelesse straitely charge you y* all excusations leide
aparte ye in alle haste possible j seen thees oure letters j
come personally unto oure presence to here and under-
stande suche things as then shalbe opened unto you on
oure behalf^ and we woll that ye faylle not herein in
any wyse and as ye love and tendre oure worship and
welfare. Yeven 1c. at Westm the vij. day of Juyn
the yere 1c. xxxj.
To oure right trusty and welbeloved
ye Lord Egremonde.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum Consilii sui.
T, Kent.
1 Sic.
1463.] SI HENRY VI. 141
llbuL art« 37* Letter from the King to Lord Egremont, dated 26th June,
SI Hen.VL 1463.]
By the King.
Divers tymes herebefore we have yeve you in cora-
maundement by oure letters for suche causes as moeved
us to have be and appered before us and oure counsaille
at dales and place conteigned in the same./ to the whiche
oure letters and commaundement ye in no wyse obeying
have differred so to appere j as ye yit doo j wherof we not
w* oute cause gretely mervaille and take it to displesir j
willing for so muche and in the straitest wyse charging
you eftesones that in all hast possible j seen thees oure
letters j ye come and appere personelly befor us and
oure saide counsaille to here and understande that shalbe
laide before you at youre commyng ^ and over this that
in the meane tyme ye here and kepe the pees ayenst
alle oure subgetts j no thing doing or attemptyng nor
swSryng to be doo or attempted by any of youres in
any wyse to the contrarie./ and yat ye faille not in
execution of this oure commaundement or any part
therof upon the feith and ligeance that ye owe unto
us. Yeven \c. at Westin the xxvj. day of Juyn the
yere \c. xxxj.
To the Lord Egremonde.
[Ibid, art. SB. Letter from the King to Sir John Neville, dated
26th June, 31 Hen.VL 1453.]
By the King.
Trusty and welbeloved j It is come to oure know^
lache how by occasion of certaine discordes and debates
moeved betwyx you and the Lord Egremond divers
things and novelries contrarie to oure pees have of late
daies be committed betwix you into grete trouble and
vexation of oure countree and sugitts there j with the
whiche demeanyng of reason we may not be well con-
142 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453.
tent 4 wherfore and for other causes moevyng us we woU
and in the straitest wyse charge you that in alle hast
possible after the recevyng of thees cure letters ye
comme and appere before us and oure counsaille to
here and understand suche matiers as shalbe opened to
you at your commyng ^ and also that in the meane
tyme ye kepe oure pees •/ nothing doing or attempting
by your self nor suflTring to be doo pr attempted by
any of youres that may be to the offense or hurt of the
same oure pees j not levyng this oure commaundement
upon the feith and ligeance that ye owe unto us.
Yeven 1c. at Westm the xxvj. day of Juyn the yere
1c. xxxj.
To our trusty and welbeloved
John Neville knyght son to
oure right trusty and welbe-
loved cousyn th'Erle of Sales -
bury.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum Consilii.
\Jbid* art. 89. Letter from the King to the I^ord Grey of RugemoDt,
dated 11th July, 31 Hen.VI. 1453.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved j we grete you wele j
And for asmoche as we have certaine causes to be com-
muned w* you 4 the whiche conceme the weele of us
and oure reaume and shall w^ the grace of oure Lord be
to youre worship j we by th'advis of oure counsaill write
unto you at this tyme v desii*eing and also charging you
that in all goodly hasten thees oure letters seen^ ye
come to us and oure saide counseil to oure palois of
Westm to hier and undrestande that that shalbe opened
unto you at youre said c5myng on oure behalf^ and
we will in no wise yat ye leve this as ye desire ye
145S.] SI HENRY VI. 143
wdfare of us and oure subgetts. Yeven 1c, at Westm
the xj. day of Juyll the yere Itc. xxxj.
To the Lord Gray Rychemond.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii^ pr»-
sentibus Dominis Cardinal Somers Thes Priore
Sancti Johannis Thorp 1c.
T. Kent
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. v. f. 159. Original
Letter from the King to dated 20th July, SI Hen. VL 145S.]
By the Kyng.
RiGH^T trusty and welbeloved ^ Howe it be that by
oure other Ires of prive seel of the date at Westm the
xiiij. day of this pnt moneth we willed and also charged
you either to have sende unto oure tresore the cc. marc
like as ye aggreed by mocon of o' right trusty and wel-
beloved oure Tresorer of Englande to lenne us for soco's
of oure cousin therle of Shrouesbury and oure contree and
subgittf there as he is in oure duchie of Guyenne j or
elles to have appered psonelly before us and oure
Counsaille at ctaine day nowe passed^ as in o^ saide
tres it was conteigned more at large. Nevthelesse that
notw*standyng ye neyther have sende the saide money
nor appered according to o' said cdmaundemt wherof
we have greet Svaillev For somoche we write to you
eftesones straitely charging you that as ye wol eschewe
to be noted and taken for a letter and breker of tharmee
whiche is appointed to be sende unto o' said duchie for
the said soco's ye w* oute delay or tarying either sende
by the berer herof the saide cc. marc unto oure said
Tresorer or come in alle possible haste psonelly before
144 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453.
oure said Counsaille to have knowlache of suche matiers
as shalt be declared unto you j and herin
upon the paine abovesaide. Yeven TiC. at Westm the
XX**. day of Juylt the yere 'Ic. xxxj.
To o
the
«
De man*'** Regf per avisa*^* sui Consilii •/"
pn! Dnis Carl' Cancett Epo Wintoa
Duce SoiSs Comite Sa^ Thes Angl | ^angport
Barone Duddeley Thoma Thorp 1c. J
[Bibl. Cotton. Nero, B. vii. f. 1. Original.
Letter from the King to Francis duke of Venice, dated 2l8t July,
31 Hen VL 1463.]
Henricus T:c. dilecto nob Francisco Fuscari duci
Venetorii illustri ac dnis de suo Consilio amicis nris
carissimis salutem cu omni dilectione. Ilhistris \ magnifici
viri J animi anxietate quadam percepimus humani generis
inimicu omniu malo^ seminatorem et patrem suis inven-
cione et fraude inr reJigiosissimu viru magrm supiorem
ordinis Sci Johis Jertm apud Rodn et iliustre dniu vrm
discordia^ fundamenta It odii jactasse ac displicencia
quand^m posuisse j que res q^m sit amara et toti Xpiani-
tati ingrata eo niaxime ostendit' quo versilif majora sit
productura pi clay nam si infima^ et quandoq^ viliu psonaA
rancores inicia durissimis reb3 prebeant et pessima con-
comitant' exempla quales ex egregio^ viro^ turbacione
exitus secuturos fore judicabimus ac cu religio ipa de-
vota sit Xpiano^ defensio ac ppugnat'x ^z supna ut nobis
visum est disposicoe ordinata \ pio^ p^ncipu devocione
145S.I SI HENRY VI. I45
stabilita j ipiquaq^ potentes sitf strenui et illo siti climate
quib3 pfatu scm ordinem plurimu refocillare poteritf et
eciam divsis agitare nocumentf si libeatf 4 Dolemus merito
minima diam apud vos subortam videre 4 ex qua univsale
dampnii geSari facilime valet j Auget nri animi motus
qd religiosi ordinis memorati nos et pgenitores nros inu
p^marios Isuos fundatores c5numaiit ex quo fit ut omi
conamine niti oportet eoj^ quieti pvider et agere p nra
viiili ne quoquo modo ledant'^ Q*mobrem illustris et
magnifici viri vras gravitates et amicicias ex intimis
hortatas facira^ et rogam^y refellat' diabolica fraus et
malicia qui exit seminare semen suu in orto vroy ex-
tinguant' ejus incendia quib3 dulcissimos
aniicicie% nexus qui diu viguisse inr vos et jpfatu Xpi
ordinem dinoscunt' consuiSe anelat et devorare 4 deleant'
ex animis vris rancores % • • • offenditf sine dubio j et
si forsan displicencie data ex aliquo sit occao abscidat'
prudencia vra qua maxie preditos vos ee
ad . . • moveant in Dno requirim^ Salvatoris nri exempla
qui venit dare pacem hoib3 qui p pace iirapassus est
qui acceptans q*m offerre v*timas j ista
dilectionib3 vris intimamus'y ista suadem^v p hiis apud vos
preces agim^ et sine dubio gaudebim^
Ceteru ni pnciaj^ ha^ lator Jolies
Langstrother pfati ordinis miles valde ob sua Sita et
g^tissima servicia nobis accep ; patrias
et districtus anteq^ Rodu attingat quo tendit 4 ppterea
ex novo rogam^ q^tinus ipm rec5missu Hri
... . . t*ctare velitf uti vros nris regnis It dominiis
t*ctari cupitf et in illis complacere eidm que a vris
niagnificenciis iiram instancia
efficere qd navigio vro ofle suo pduci valeat usq^ Rodu
illo non obstante decreto et mandato qd
littora ibm 4 In hiis omib3 non paru amicicie
VOL. VI. L
146 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [146S.
vre nobis complacebut quas Altissim^ votive cu pspitate
confvet. Scrip Westmonasrii
[sub nro private sigillo] xxj. die Julii anno 1c, xxxj°*®.
De mandate Regf p avisa*** sui Consilii.
[Additional MS. 4611. art. 40. a modem Tratucripi,
Letter from the King to Lord Fauconberg, dated 25th July, SI Hen.VI.
1453.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved cousin j We greet you
wel J lating you wite that it hath be reported unto us
and oure Counsaile howe that as touching the m^ raarc
which in partie of paiement of m^ li. yerely assigned
unto you for ye kepyng of oure castell of Rokesbourgh
ye shoide yerely take of the custumes and profitts
corny ng in and upon oure port of Newcastell j it was
nowe late accorded and aggreed betwix our right trusty
and welbeloved cousin th'Erle of Salesbury and you ^
than being present oure trusty and welbeloved Johau
Wode clerc unto oure Tresourer of England v that ye
shoide receyve and take yerly in oure said port two
parties of the saide custumes and proffits and oure
saide cousin of Salesbury for suche dutee as belongeth
unto him j the thridde part w unto the tyme ye were con-
tented of the saide m^ marcy to the whiche accorde
oure saide Tresorer of Englande hath aggreed him j And
howe it be that hereupon oure letters patents in due
fourme be made and ensealed./ yit neverthelesse the
moost reverent fadre in God Johan cardinal and arche-
bysshop of Canterbury oure Chanceller of Englande
t
1458.3 31 HENRY VI. I47
diflferreth to make deliverance of thaim unto the tyme
that he be certified from youre self of the saide aggre-
ment j Wherefore we write unto you at this tyme exhor-
tyng that with alle diligence and spede possible ye
by writyng late oure said Chanceller have knowlache
of youre entente in this behalf^ considering that the
souner the saide letters be putte to execution the rather
th'effect of the conclusion desired thereby shall ensewe.
Yeven tc. at Westm the xxv. day of Juyll the yere \c.
xxxj.
To the Lord Faucomberge.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport
[Bnd> art 4L Letter from the King to the Earl of Salisbury, dated
27th July, SI Hen.VL 145S.]
Right trusty and welbeloved cousjmj For as moch
as Dire be acertaigned by credible information that of
late dayes grete assembles and riottous gaderings of
people have be made in the shire that ye dwelle in j as
wel by your sone S' John Nevill knyght as othre per-
sones J unto right grete vexation and trouble of oure
contre and subgitts there ^ directly ayenst oure lawes
and pees j by ye which to grete an inconvenience were
like to ensew if it were not hastily purveied for^ We
therfor write unto you at this tyme exhorting and in
ye straitest wise also charging you that ye by all the
wayes and meanes possible unto you doo your eifectuell
labour and diligence that the said assembles and ga-
derings of people be put downe and utterly ceesed
and that ye see our pees be kept by you and yours j not
suffring any thing to be doo or attempted to the con-
L 2
148 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453-
trary by any personne as ferforth as ye shall mowe j and
over this that our trusty and welbeloved counsailler
William Lucy knyght and other our commissionours
which we sende thider at this tyme for the saide cause
be obeid in all things as it accordeth for our honnour
and worship and the conservation of oure lawes^ not
levyng this upon the feith and ligeaunce that ye owe
unto us. Yeven Ic. at Westm the xxvij. day of Juyli.
To th'Erle of Salesbury.
Item semble to th'Erle of Northum for his
son the Lord Egremond.
\JDnd. art. 45. Letter from the King to Lord Egremont and to Sir
John Nevill, son of the Earl of Salisbury. The date of this letter
does not appear ; but judging f om the preceding and following one»
it is presumed to have been written on or about the 27th July,
81 Hen. VI. 1453.]
By the King,
Right trusty and welbeloved j For as moche as we be
credibly enfourmed yat divers riottous assembles and
gaderings of people have of late dayes be made in the
con tree yat ye dwelle in j and so yit continue v to the
which ye have take upon you to be leder and so yit
be J contrary unto our lawes and to greet trouble of oure
pees and subgetts yere ./We wol and in the straitest wyse
charge you yat incontinent •/ seen yees oure letters j ye
putting downe and departing all suche assemblees and
gaderings j kepe oure pees and be obeying unto onre
commissioners yat we sende yider at yis tyme for this
cause •/ of the which we have deputed and ordeigned
oure trusty and welbeloved counsailler William Lucy
knight to be oon ^ and we wol yat ye faile not herein
upon peyne of forfaiteur of all your goodes and iandes
1453.] 31 HENRY VI. 149
and upon ye feith and ligeance yat ye owe unto us.
Yeven tc. at Westm ye
To ye Lord Egremond.
Item to oure trusty and welbeloved John Ne-
vill knyght sonne to oure right trusty and
welbeloved cousyn the Erie of Salesbury.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Langport.
[3id, art. 43. Letter from the King to Sir John Conyers^ Sir James-
Pickering, and others^ dated 27th July, and apparently in the-
3l8t Hen. VI. 1453.]
By the King.
It is comen to oure knowlach how divers riottes^
routes and gaderings of people contrary to oure lawes
and pees of late dayes have be made and yit contynue
in the shire and contree that ye dwelle in j unto grete
trouble and vexation of oure subgitts there j by occasion
whereof irreparable inconvenience were like to folowe
that God forbide olesse than hasty provision were made
in this behalfe j of the which routes and gaderings ye-
have be a grete sturer and moever and also leder j wherof
we gretely marvaille and take it as we nedes must to right
grete displesire j For so muche we wol and in the moste
straiteest wyse charge yowe that ye surceesing of alle
such gaderings and riots makeing and thoo that so-
been made deviding and utterly ceesing kepe j oure pees ^
noo thing attempting or doing or suffring to be doo or
attempted by any of youres or other any thing contrarie
to cure pees j and more over that ye duely be obeying*
unto oure trusty and welbeloved counsailler William
Lucy knyght and other oure commissioners whiche we-
sende at this tyme thidre for the said cause in air
things concernyng th'execution of oure lawes and coar-
L 3
ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453.
' oure pees v not levyng soo to doo upon pein
r of alle youre laudes and goodes and upon
nd ligeaance that ye owe unto us. Yeven
>rive seell at Westm the xxvJj. day of Juyll.
To John Conyers
James Pekering
Rauife Randolf
Thomas Mouneforth
Ric of Aske
Rauf Neville
Thomas Sewer
John Adorn
knyghts
■squiers.
Another letter from the King on tlie same subject,
dated 27th July, 31 Hen. VI. 1*55.]
e King.
and welbeloved 4 For asmoche as we have
B by credible reporte made unto us howe
lawefuH assembles and gaderiugs of people
livers parties in ye contree yat ye dwelle
ne oure contree and subgitts yerof have be and
y troubled vexed and uoeased j we sende yider
ne oure trusty and welbeloved counsailler
ucy knyght with oure letters of commission
to enquere of suche matters and to doo yat
; to ye reformation of yat is doon oyerwyse
awe wold and so to conservation and keping
eesw For so muche we write unto you ex-
aying and neverthelesse charging you upon
id trouth yat ye owe unto us yat at such
s shall be requyred by oure said counsailler ^
and assiste him by alle menes to you possible
yat may concerne th'execution of oure lawes
downe and ceesing of such assembles and
1453.] 31 HENRY VL 151
gaderings ye keping of oure pees and good rule and
traoquyllitee of oure saide contree and subgitts j and yat
ye faille not herein in any wyse. Yeven 1c. at Westm
the xxvij. day of Juyll ye yere Ttc. xxxj.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. v. f. 159. OriginaL
Letter from the King to the Mayors and custumers of Dartmouth, Ply-
mouth, Fowey, and other ports, dated 6th August, 31 Hen. VI. 14^3.]
By the Kyng.
Trusty and welbeloved j For as moch as we for the
relief socours and defense of oure duchie of Guyenne
and }>e confort and help of oure riglit trusty and wel-
beloved cousin Therle of Shrouesbury and other oure
subgittf }>ere have ordeigned a greet and notable armee
to be sende thidre in alle haste ^ we write unto you at
this tyme desiring \ praying you hertely }>at by alle fe
weyes 1 menes possible unto you j ye on oure behalve
sture moeve trete \ enduce all J>e oweners \ maisters^
of J>e shippes 1 vesselles }>at belonge unto oure porte
of Dertemouth to be redy witli J?air saide vesselles \
shippes to accompaignee oure saide armee towardes
oure saide duchie by Y ^^^te of Saint Bartholomew
next comyng^ at ye ferrest 4 and }>at ye faille not
herein as ye love It tendre }>e worship \ welefare of us
1 of all }>is oure lande and J>e seuretee of oure saide
cousin It duchie. Yeven \c. }>e \g. day of August }>e
yere "tc. xxxj.
To pe Mayer 1 custumers of Dertmoutli.
To J^e Mayer It custumers of Plymmouth.
To J?e Mayer It custumers of Fowey.
I August 24th.
L 4
ACTS OF raiVY COUNCIL, Cl«8- -
:.v Forasmuch 1c. ut supra usque ibi en-
sic i and also charge J>e oweners X maisters
ppes as be bountle to Bourdeaux warde
-R of oure haven |)ere fat )>ay diawe J?aim
e porta of Sandewiche or Hampton so J>at
by ]7e feste of Saint Bartholomew next
[% ferrest to accompaigne oure saide armie
\ saide duchie j and Jrat ye faille not 1c. ut
'o J»e Maier 1 custumers of oure towne 1 port
of Lynne.
H semble to J>e Baillyef 1 custumers of cure
porte of Orwen.
Regis p avisa'"" sui Consilii j pntibj Dnis
Decano Sci Severini Thorp 1c.
Lahgport.
X. Letter from the King to the Mayor of Loudon,
August, 31 Hen.VL H53. Vidt Rot. I^rl. vol. r.
]
sKyng.
nd welbelovedv We late you wite that not
for late setting fortb of an armee disposed
> o' duchie of Guyenne j we ceitaine alome
larchauntf of Jene to the some of viij™". X\.
id it solde to divers marchauntf 1 citezeos
aftes w*in o' citee of London * yeving thayme
utter the same alome with increce of ij. s.
i. as in an act therupon made plainly ap-
id it is soo that the said marchauntf and
contented of the some that tliay bought it
M$.^ 31 HENRY VI. 153
fore and thincrece of the saide ij. S. of the pounde
restetK stylle in thaire handes undevided j We not
doubting but that yo'^ greet discrecon and wisdom con-
sidereth wele what charges and costes daily in many
behalves resten upon us and in espiaS for the defense
and saufgarde of oure saide duchie the relief and socours
also of o^ rig^t trusty and welbeloved cousin the Erie
of Shrouesburye and otlir o' subgittes such as he is ac-
compaignied of ther and saufgarde of the see j we wol
praie and neverthelesse straitly charge you that alt the
saide mchauntf and citezens that bought the said alome ye
do caB afore you moevyng entretyng and also charging
thayme in such wise that they and everich of thayme do
ease us at this tyme of alt thencrece of the saide alome j
that is to say of every pounde ij. s. by way of lone j for
the which thay shalt have sufficiant assignement upon the
xv"^. paiable unto us at Mydsomere next comyng j the
which we doubt not thai wol soo doo considering o'
said charges and costes and that it is clerely wynny . •
thayme ^ and in case that any of the saide
mchauntf and citezens wol in no wise be entreted by
you to ease us at this tyme of the said encrece^ we
wol than that ye w^oute delaye certifie unto us and oure
counsailt of thaire names and of the quantite of the
alome bought by thayme j charging you moreover that
by the othes of xij. trewe men of o' saide citee ye
do enquere and thereupon certifie also unto us and o'
saide Counsailt what alome hath be sold by hem or by
any other mchauntf or citezens of o' said citee to
gretter encrece than thay were lycenced to or elt sold
any othr alome than was bought of lis during the
tyme oonte3nied in the said acte j And we wil that ye
leve not this as ye lust to do us singuler pleasir and
as ye love the suertee and saufgard of o"^ said duchie
154 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1463.
and subgittf. Yeveii 1c. at Westm the vij. day of
August the yer 1c. xxxj.
To o' trusty and welbeloved the
Mair of o' citee of London.
De mandato Regis p avisa*^' sui Consilii •/ pnl DJlis
Thes Custode privati sigilli Priore Sci Johis
Jhrlra It Thorp.
Foston'.
[Additional MS. 4611. art. 42. a modem Transcript.
Letter from the King to Sir Ralph Percy, Richard Percy, Sir John
Penyngton, and others, dated lOth August, 31 Hen. VI. 1453.]
By the King.
It is comen to oure knowlache howe divers riottes
routes and gaderings of people contrarie to oure lawes
and pees of late dayes have be made and yit continue
in the shire and contree that ye dwelle in j unto greet
trouble and vexation of oure subgetts yerej by occasion
whereof to irreparable inconvenience were like to folowe
that God forbide olesse thanne hasty provision were
made in this behalf^ of the whiche riottes and gaderings
ye have be a greet sturrer and moever and also leder
as we be right credibly enformed j wherefore we greatly
mervaille and take it as we nedes must to right greet
displesir j For so moche we woll and in the moost straitest
wise charge you that ye surcessing of all such gaderings
and routes making and thoo that so ben made dividing
and utterly ceesing kepe oure pees j noo thing attempting
or doing or suffring to be do or attempted by any of
yours or other asmoche as in you is any thing contrarie
to oure pees ^ and moreover that ye duely be obeying
to oure trusty and welbeloved counsailler William Lucy
145S.] SI HENRY VI. 155
knyght and other oure commissioners whiche we sende
at yis tyme yider for the saide cause in alle yinge con-
cemyng the execution of oure iawes and conservation
of oure pees j not levyng so to doo upon paine and for-
faiteur of all youre landes and goodes and upon the
feith and ligeaunce yat ye owe unto us, Yeven Ike. at
Westm the x. day of August the yere \c. xxxj.
S^ Rauf Percy l S*^ Henri Fenwyk
Ric Percy I S"" William Martindale
S' John Penyngton J John Swynboume squier.
Rolande Kyrkeby 1
Henri Belingham Lquiers.
William Lee J
De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii.
Foston.
[i5u/. art. 46. Letter from the King to the Mayors and Sheriffs of
Bristol and Hull, dated 11th August, 31 Hen. VI. 1453.]
By the King,
Trusty and welbeloved j It is so y* oure armee nowe
by us ordeigned to goo into oure duchie of Guyenne for
the sure and saufegarde yerof of oure right trusty and
welbeloved cousin th'Erle of Shrouesbury and of oure
subgitts that he is accompaigned of ther shal be redie to
take the see towardes oure saide duchee w*in shorte tyme j
and it is so as we are enfourmed y* oure adversaries
by all the waies and meanes to hem possible laboren
daily to assemble a greet navie upon the see to entre the
rivour of Gyrond to th'entent that thay shold mowe lette
the passages of oure saide armee and as muche as in
thaym is to the destruction of the same ^ that God de-
fende j We wol therfor and straytely charge you that in
oure towne of Bristowe ye do make open proclamation
ACTS OF PRIVV COUNCIL [IWS.
I and commaunding on oure bebalfe the msustres
! and all other persones disposed nowe this yere
jDto oure saide duchie to be redy afore oure port
louth w' there vesselx and shippes the xxvij. daye
)re8ent moneth of August j there to entende and
upon oure saide artnee j ye whiche so assembled
shal by the grace of oure Lorde w'oute difficultee
tre into the said river ^ not failling so to doo as
ire thair owen and oure saide armee sure passage
!tee and saufgard also of oure saide duchie and
. Yeven ondre oure prive seel at Westra the
of August the yere Ic. xxxj.
To oure trusty and welbeloved the Maire
shiriefs and baillifs of oure towne of Bris-
towe.
Item semble tres to the Maire and baillifs of
oure towne of Hull,
landato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii ^ prs-
lentibus Dominis Thes Custod privati sigilli Thorp
it Decano Sancti SeveriK.
FostoD.
[Bibl.' Cotton. Cleopatra, F.v. f. 16a OriffinaL
m tbe King to the Mayor of Southampton and othen, dated
4th August, 31 Hen. VI. 1453.]
y the King.
TY and welbeloved V We late you wite that we
listing in youre greet wisdomes sadnesse and
»ns J have ordeigned and deputed you and everich
and by thees oure tres yeve you and evericli
futt power and auctoritee to weye utter and so
oure moost availle and encresse afl' suche peces
I45S.] SI HENRY VI. 157
of tynne as nowe late were by oure commaundement
arrested within oure towne of Southampton for the
hasty settyng forthe of oure armee nowe ordeyned to be
sent into oure duchie of Guyenne for the. saufgarde
therof and the seuretee of our right trusty and wel-
beloved cousin therle of Shrouesbury and of other o'
subgettf that he is accompany ed of and also of the see ^
Wherfore we wott and charge you and evericfi of you
that aboute the premisses ye diligently entende and doo
to be executed for the cause aforesaide j and in cas that
ye can in noo wyse fynde the meanes of utteraunce of
the saide tynne to be made within oure saide towne we
wott thanne and straitely charge you j that of as moche
as ye do make sale of ye do sende the moneye unto
oure tresorie in aS haste possible and the remenaunt
unsolde ye do purveye and ordeyne that it be sent and
caried unto oure citee of London^ morover charging
you and evich of you that aS suche psones as clayme
any propertee in any parte of the saide tynne that ye
remitte theim to the lordf of oure CounsaiB at Westm
where and by whome it shatt be purveied for theire con-
tenting and paiemeut and in suche wyse as shaB be
goode and sufSceant unto theim y and that ye ne noon of
you faille herof as ye luste to do us singuler plesir and
as ye love the seuretee and sauf garde of oure saide
contree and subgittf . Yeveii T;c. at Westm the xiiij. day
of August the yer of o' regne xxxj.
To our trusty and welbeloved Andrewe James
maire of o' towne of Southampton John
Ewerby Thomas Osberfi Symkyn Edward
Laurence Moyen and to evich of theim.
De man*" Regis p avisamentu sui Consilii j pntib5 Diiis
Thes J Thorp j Decano Sci Severini.
Foston'.
acts of privy council, [145s.
Acta de Anno Tricesimo secundo.
Bib). Cotton. VeBpaaiai!) Cxiv. f. 530. eontemporaiy MS.
from the King to the Earl of Westmoreland and the Bishop of
lam, dated Sth October, and apparently in the 3&d Hen.VI.
■]
By the King.
ih't trusty and welbeloved cosine We have under-
3 bj credible reporte made unto us the greet labours
t and diligences that ye have nowe of late tyme
and doo daily for the letting and appesing of sucb
[es and unlawful gaderingf of people as not long
ave be and yit as it is saide contynue in the contree
e dwelle and ther a boute .; and that ye in no wise
fi ye be nygb of blode and allie to the pties making
assembles have favoured or lened in such unfittyg
lyng to that con ptie or to that other 4 butt have be
ind ben to heipe strength and assiste such lordes
and tempel thef as ben fully disposed and sette
srently to the coservacon of our pees easing and
ng of the saide gaderingC and good and restful
nance of our saide cootree and subgittf j of which
good disposicon and sadde demenyng we be right
sntent and thanke you spially * willyng exhorting
Iso prayng you hertely so to contynue v whenn ye
do thing ful acceptable unto God to our saide
iz and subgittes beboveful and piitable and right
It to us and thankeful and cause us to be tlie more
us to do thing that may be to yo' pleasir and be-
Yeven under our prive seel at Westm the viij. day
tobr.
To therle of Westmert.
Ilm semble to the revent fader in God our
right trusty and welbeloved cosin the
Bisshbp of Duresme.
14».] 58 HBNRY VI. I59
[Ibid. f.521.
Letter from the King to the Archbishop of York, dated 8th October,
and apparently in the 32nd Hen.VL 1453.]
By the King.
MoosT reverent fader in God our right trusty and wel-
beloved j We have understande by credible reporte made
unto us that ye according to the degree and astate that
ye stande in have goodly and godly doo your parte and
daily do to thappesing and ceesing of suche troubles and
unlawful gaderingf of people as not long agoo have be
and yit as it is saide continue in the contrees that ye
dwelle in j deserving thenn as we can you riglit grete and
spial thankej willyng exhortyng and also prayug you
hertely that ye wol so contynue and that ye wol not
departe frome that contree unto the tyme the saide
trouble and unlawful assemblees be fully appesed and
extint as our pfite trust is on you j understandyng for
certaine that herin ye shal do thyng ful acceptable to
God to our saide contree and subgittes behoveful and
pfitable and rigKit plesant to us and thankeful and cause
us to be the more desirous to do thing that may be to
your pleasir and behove. Yeven under our prive seel at
Westm the viij. day of Octobr.
To tharchebisshop of Yorke.
[IbiiL Letter from the King to the Earls of Salisbury and Northumber-
land, dated 8th October, and apparently in the 32nd Hen. VI. 1453.]
By the Kyng.
Cousin j Howe it be that at al tymes before this ye
have be holde a sadde a sober and a wel reuled man as
it sittett you in al wyse so to be j and somoche the more
for the degree and astate that ye stande inne j the which
160 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1458.
is ordeined you not to abuse it but to use to the worship
of God and to the fvice and supportacon of us in keping
of our pees and of o^ lawes j to the which ye owe to do
so moche the gretr diligence that ye be ooii of the
comissioners of the pees in the contrees that ye dwelle
inne j and also stande charged oon of the lordes of cure
Counsail j in receivyng of the which charge ye were
sworne that yf ye sholde from that tyme forth hiere of
any debate betwix lord and lord by stiring of the which
the good reste and pees of this oure lande might in any
wyse be letted or troubled whom soever of thsdme it
touched J ye yf it touched you sholde be reuled by the
lordes of oure said Counsail j and in no wyse take upon
you the reule therof at yo' owne hande v the which not-
withstanding and also that in oure Parlement which is
yit contynued * ye and aH othr lordes wer warned that
yf any of you felt him grieved ayenste other shold putte
in his grief in writing j and besides this notwithstanding
the straite charge and cdmaundement yeven unto you
nowe late by oure Ires of prive seal by the which ye
sholde have putte you in yo' devoir by al meenes pos-
sible to the ceessing and putting downe of thassembiees
and gaderingf remembred in the same oure Iresj ye
w*oute any request or complaint made to us of any grief
do unto you have sith that tyme as it is saide take upon
you or be disposed to take upori you contrarye to oure
saide comaundement and also to oure pees and lawes j to
make the grettest assemblee of our liegemen and therto
have appointed tyme and place that ever was made
w*in this oure lande at any tyme that man can ihinke j
the whiche yf it so be do or heraf? happe to be doo by
you youre ordenaunce or appointement yf any of oure
1 No notice of this fact occurs on the rolls of that Parliament.
145S.] 32 HENRY VI. I6l
liegemen be perisshed by the meane therof we wol that
ye holde for undoubted that aswel ye as thoo that have
be counsailling and helping you therin shal so be so
chastised that bothe ye and thay and al othr oure sub-
gittf shal have matier and cause to eschewe to attempte
any thing like heraft j And as toward you yf ye so have
attempted ayenste oure estate and yours 4 def vyng therby
to be straunged from thoccupacion of the said astate that
ye stand we shal in no wyse spare you in this cas 4 but
rather more grevousty punyssh you than we wolde do
the leste persone of oure lande j the which neverthelesse
as cure Lord knoweth we wold be right lothe to doo.
Yeven Ic. at Westm the viij. day of Octobr.
To oure cousin therle of Saj^ 1c.
Km semble to o' cousin therle of Northumbr.
De man*° Regis p avisa*''* sui Consilii 4 pnl Dflis Car^*
Epo Herford Dug Buck Ic.
Lanoport.
{JOnd. f. 52a
Letter from the King to Lord Egremont and Sir John Neville* son of
the Earl of Salisbury, dated 8th October, S2 Hen. VI. 145S.]
HoMTE it be that not long agoo we putte you to the
worship and astate of fiaron'./ not foe any greet service
that ye hadde do to us before that tyme./ but for the
trust and trowing that we hadde of the good service
that ye sholde do us in tyme c5myng./ in espiatt in
keping of the rest and pees of oure lande and in
letting of alle that sholde mowe be to the contrarye 4
1 Thomas Percy, a younger son of Henry, third Earl of Northumber-
land, was created Baron of Egremont, to hold to him and his heiri;
male, on the 20th November, 28 Hen. VI. 1449.
VOL.VI. M
162 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1453.
neverthelesse we be credibly enfourmed that ye ne use
not the saide astate to the saide entente but to the
contrariev deservyng therby to be straunged therfroo ^
in espiaB in that that notw^standing oure tres late ad-
dressed unto you bering date at Westm the xxvij. day
of Jiiytt last passed^ by the whiche we yave you in
the straitest wyse in c5maundement upon the feith
and ligeance that ye owe unto us to putte downe and
departe alle suche assemblees and gaderingf of people
as at that tyme ye hadde made and arraised ayenst
oure pees •; in comocon and trouble of oure subgittf of
the contree that ye dwelt •; in and to kepe o' peax j like
as it was conteigned in the same oure Ires •/ ye ne have
in any wyse obeyed nor accomplysshed oure saide
comaundement ^ but as it apperetR wel in contempt
therof have multiplied and daily do gaderynggf of
people of oure subgittf redy to goo to the feld as by
credible reporte we have undstande ye dispose you
fully to doo as it were in lande of werre •; unto fuH
greet hurt unease and trouble of o*^ saide countree and
subgittf and of lyklyhode to destruccon and undoying
therof •; that God forbede •; if it were not sette apart j
Wherfore we wol and in the moost straitest wyse charge
you as before that havyng consideracon to the nonn
observance of th« contynue of oure saide tres the con-
tempt that ye be ronne in ayenst us in that behalf and
the charge that may be leyde upon you therfore in
tyme c5myng j ye in restful! and peisible wyse departe
sucli people as ye have assembled and surseesse of suche
noveiries as ye have begonne j keping oure pees and
makyng it to be kept by alle yours and other as ferre
as in you is 4 and that ye faille not so to doo upon
1 Vide p. 148, antea.
V
1453-3 32 HENRY VL 163
paine and forfaiteur of alt that ye may forfaitc onto
us and upon the feitb and ligeance that ye owe unto
us. Yeven Ic. at Westm the viij. day of Octobr the
yere "Xc. xxxij.
To the Lord Egremond.
Km to i Joftn Nevytt knyg^t son to Therle
of Sa^ begynnyng at notwitlhstandyng 1c.
llbid, f. 522.
Letter firom the King to the Duke of York, dated 24th October,
32 Hen.VL 1453.]
By the King.
Right trusty and riglit welbeloved cousin ^ We sende
imto you at this tyme oure trusty and welbeloved
Thomas Tyrett knight oon of o^ counsailleurs to whome
we have comitted certaigne credence to be opened unto
you on oure behalf^ Wherfore we will that in the thingf
that he shal open to you in oure name ye yeve [unto
him] ful feitXi and credence v And for asmuche as we be
enfourmed that ye have received no suche tres as we
wrote oute for thassemblee of this oure Greet Counsail
we sende unto you by the said i Thomas newe tres of
the same contynue and tenure that the rathre were.
Yeven 1c. at Westifi the xxiij. day of Octobre the
yere 1c. xxxij.
To the Due of York.
llbid.']
Instruccon yeven by the King oure souverein"
lord by thavis of his Counsail to Thomas
TyreH knight whome he sendith to the Due
of Yore at 'ph tyme.
Furst he shal psent his Ires which be of credence
and aftir that he shal say that nowe late the King for
M 2
164
ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL,
[145S.
suche causes as moeved him hatli called and do to be
assembled a Greet Counsail here at Westm and that
amonge othre thingf that moeved his highnesse oon
was to sette rest and union betwixt the lordf of this
lande j And for asmuch as there hath bee and yit as it
is supposed is variance betwixt hym and sum othre of
the lordf-/ therfor the King witt that he in al godely
haste dispose and come to the said Counsail peasiblie
and mesurablie accompanied. Yeven as above.
De mandato Regis p avisa*''* Consilii j pnl"
Diiis Wintoii Roffen Norwic Sa^
Lincoln Epis^ Thes Sudeley Dud-
deley Prior Sci Johannis.
-T. Kent.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. v. f. 164. Original.
Minutes of the Council, 6th December, S2 Hen.VI. 1453.]
The vj. day of Decembr a® xxxij**®. H. vj**. it is
ayysed assented \ ordeyned by my lordf of J>e Kyngf
Counsett l?at for asmoche as cteyne somes of money of
necessite muste be hastely pvyded for J?e expenses of J>e
Kyngf hous J>at a sufficiant warant be made to my
Lord Chaunceller that he make as mony tres patentes
1 writtes as shall mowe be sufficiant necessary \ behove-
full to do ./ D. sakkes of J>e Kyngf woll to be shipped for
J>e Kyng \ in his name in carrekkes galleys shippes or
other vesselles and by suche psones 1 in suche portes
as it shaH seme moste exspedient and necessary to my
Lord Tresorer of Engelond for redy money to be
hadde j and l>e seyd woUes so shipped to be caryect out
out of Jris royalme in to suche parties of J?e Kyngf amite
as shall be ]>oght to J>e same psones raoste exspedient for
U58-4.] 32 HENRY VL l65
^'e sale of ]>e same j without eny custume or subsidie
piof to be asked claymed or payed t without eny
impediment or delay by reson of a statut made in ]>e
Parlement holdeil at Westm and ended at Wynchestre
the xxvij*. yere of }>e regne of J?e Kyng oure soveyn
lord or eny other statut or statutes in to }>e contrary
made notw^standing.
I. Car' R. York
W. EIbo^ Jasper
T. •London' R. Warrewyk
W. Wynton* J. Worcestre
T. B. Elien' Bourgchier.
[Bibl. CuttOD. Nero, B. vn. f. 2. contemporary copy.
Letter from the King to Francis duke of Venice, dated 13th March,
32 Hen.VI. 1454.]
Henkicus 1c. dilecto nobis Francisco de Fuscari
duci Veneto^ illustri ac dominis de suo Consilio amicf
nris ex intimis salutem j lUustris et magnifici viri prin-
cipii '\ magnatuii exposcit nobilitam vulgariq^ caritate
stringunt' omes favore psequi quos sibi noverint aliqua
ex parte benevolencia conjiictos fore majori igit' animo
ad eos ptractandii benevole insurgere debemus apud quos
majora merita habent' et quando pftim in res egregias
tote Xpia** utiles sua corpa 1 vires conferre conant'
studeantq^ suo piculo alioj^ quieti pvidere j verum postq*m
ilia rabies Teucrorum adeo in Xpianos infremuit plan-
gendaq^ tote Xpianitati subduccio Constantinopolis sit
insecuta magnificus et religiosissim^ vir Sci Johis Jerlm
Magnus Magist Rhodi se forcorem efiicere studens et
potencorein contra pfato^ Teucrorum nephandum prin-
M 3
166
ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL,
[145*.
cipem canem rabidu sangis Xpiani effiisione debacatu
statuit aliquos sibi milites ordinis sui ex hoc regno nro
Anglie ad se evocare qui de pnti licencia nra ad eum
pperant ham quidm latores viri utiq^ nobiles qui cu
ob piissima causam p dominia '\, strictus vra it agere
habeant valde hortam'' ^ rogamus ipos recomissos sus-
cipe velitf quod q*mq*m facturi estf ob zelum que in
religione Xpiana geritf non dubitam^ ^ adaugeant tamen
favore petimus nre preces similem consequent' apud nos
instancie vre fructum si aliquando eis agere decreveritf
p iiro favore subditf vris impendendo^ Res ista Deo
grata erit et nobis in singlare complacencia vris quo%
gravilatib3 honore quas felicissime cu pspitate vire
cupimus. Scripl apud palaciu nrm Westm xiij. die
Marcii anno 1c. xxxij°.
Anno mense die Tt loco [p^dcis] Rex de*
avisamento Consilii sui mandavit qd
conficerenf tre sub privato sigillo
suo scdm tenore sup*scriptu j pntib3
Dnis Duce Eboj^ locutenenl parlia-
menti Cancel! j Archiepo Eboj^ •;
Epis London Winton j Duce Bukf
et aliis.
T. Kent.
[BibL Cotton. Cleopatra, F. v. f. 165. Original
Minute of the Council, 15th March, 32 Hen. VI. 14.54.]
Decimo quinto die Marcii anno Htc*. tricesimo secundo
apud Westm in cama consilii tempe parliamenti ad-
visatu \ deliberatu fuit p dnos de Consilio qd Dfis
Cancellari^ Anglie fieri faceret commissioned in forma
» Letters patent were accordingly issued on the 6th of April fol-
lowing. Vide FcEdera, vol. xi. p. 347.
1454.] 32 HENRY VI. I67
Magistris Johanni Arundett Johanni Faceby et Witttno
Hatclyff medicis Magro Roberto Wareyil 1 Johanni
Marchatt cirurgicis ad infrascripta libere ministrand et
exequend in et circa persona Regis 4 In primis qd licite
valeant moderare sibi dieta juxta discreciones suas et
casus exigencia jltemq^ in regimine medicinaliu libere sibi
possint ministrare electuaria^ pociones ./ aquas ^ siruposj
confecl5es^ laxativas medicinas in quacu% forma sibi
graciori et ut videbit' plus expedir j clisteria •; supposi-
toria J capu(]p'gia y gargarismata j balnea y vel univsalia
vel pticularia epithimata •; fomentacoes 4 embrocacoes •;
capitf rasura j unctiones j emptra j cerota 4 ventosas j cu
scarificacoe vel sine j emoroida^ provocacoes 4 modis
quib3 melius ingeniari poterit 1 juxta consilia perito^
medicoj^ qui in hoc casu scripserunt vel imposte^ scribent.
Ordinatu et deliberatu fuit ut sup* dnis-|
se subsc^bentibus ut patet 4 et man-
dal Custod pVati sigilli qd warrantu
conficeret pfaS Cancett ad efFectum
suprascriptu.
J. Car*' Cant*
W. Eboj
W. Wynton*
R.N. DuNELMEf R.Y0RK H. Bukingh'm
T. B. Elien' Jasper R, Warrewyk Oxenford'
Jo. Wygorn' Devon' Talbot
W. Norwicen' R. Salisbury
J. Hereford'^' Wylteshir*
J. Lincoln' R- Graystok
R. Covetren' 1 Licii' W. Faucomberge
J. Clynton*
ScROP' Stourton'
R. Po*" off Saint Joh'ns Bourgchier
W. Fynis. Wyllughby
M \
T, Kent.
168 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454.
[BibL Cotton. Titus, £. vi. f. 27S. Original
Minutes of the Council, 30th March and 1st April, S2Hen.yi. 1454*3
The XXX**. day of Marche the yere 1c. xxxij**. at
Westm in the Counsail Chambr tyme of Parlement it was
advised and ordenned at the desire and request of the
coes of this lande that the right revent fadre in God
the Bisshop of Ely for his greet ifiitf vertues and greet
bloode that heis^ of ^ shold be recomised to o' holy fadre
the Pope for to be pmoted to tharchiebisshopriche and
chirche of Cantbury nowe beyng voide by the deth of
the moost revend fadre [in God] Jolin Kempe late car-
dinal and archiebisshop of the said see^ It was also the
furst daye of this moneth. of April! in the place above-
said graunted and ordenned that Maistr William Gray
shold in semblable wise be recomised to the bisshopriche
and chirche of Ely and to be pmoted therto at suche
tyme as it shatt voide by the t^nslacon of the right revend
fadre abovesaid j It was also advised and assented j con-
sidered the bloode vertue and cunnyng that Maister
George NeviH sooii to therle of Salisbury chauncefir of
England is of ^ that he shold be rec5mised to the said holy
fadre for to be pmoted to the next bisshopriche that shatt
voide w4n this reaume j the pmocons abovesaid of Cant-
bury and Ely furst sped and doon j and that hereupon, tres
undre [J?e] Kingf pVe seel to be ordenned and sped.
Anno mensib3 dieb3etloco sup*scriptf ad-"|
visatii fuit qd Gustos p^vati sigilli tras t
fieri fac sub eodm sigillo scdm eflcm j * ^^'
sup*scriptu dnis se sbscribetib3 ut p3. J
I Thomas Bourchier bishop of Ely was the third son of William earl of
Ewe (by Ann Plantagenet, daughter of Thomas of Woodstock duke
of Gloucester, younger son of King Edward the Third,) and brother of
Henry viscount Bourchier, earl of Ewe in Normandy, and earl of £ssex«
1454.]
S2 HENRY VI.
169
W. Eboj
T. London'
W. WiNTON*
R« DUNELMEf
J. Wygorn*
W. Norwicen'
J. Lincoln'
J. Hkreforde
R. York
H. B(JKIN6H"M
R, Warrewyk'
j. worcestre
Devon
R. Salisbury
Beaumont
bourgchier
R. P'oR OF Saint Johns.
Scales
j. duddeley
Thomas^abbas GlouS
RiCARDUS ABBAS DE BeLLO
Joh'eS ABBAS DE SeLBY
W. Faucomberge W. Fenys
Wylteshir' £• Bergeyenny
[Bibl. Cotton. Vespasiany F« ziii. f. 36* OriginaL
Fk*oceediDg of the Council^ Ist April, S2 Hen.yi. 1454.]
Henricus '\c. Cancellario nro salutem j Cum de gra
lira spiali ex assensu et deliberacone Consilii nri con-
cesserimus dilecto nobis Magro Thome Manoyng uni
capellano^ iiroj^ decanatum libere capelle nve Sancti
Georgii infra castrum iirm de Wjmdesore per mortem
ultimi decani ibidem vacantem j habend cum suis juribus
et ptinen quibuscum^ j vobis mandamus ^ tras inde sub
magno sigillo nro in forma debil fieri faciatis j Dal sub
p^vato sigillo nro apud Westm primo die Aprilis anno
1c. xxxij^®. Anno mense die et loco predictis man-
dabat' p avisa*^' dci Consilii [Custodi pVati sigLlli]} ^
fieri faciat Iras sub eod sigillo scdm tenore sup^cripL
Concessii>fuit ut s\ T. Kent.
W. Eboj
J. Lincoln'
W. Wynton'
J. Hereford'n'
W. Norwicen'
R. Covetren'ILich'
R. York
H. BUKINGH^M
R. Warrewyk
Wylteshir
Wyllugheby
J. Worcestrc
Devon
J. DuDDELEY
Beaumont
Grey
R. P*o'oF Saint John'. Scales
170 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454
[Bibl. Cotton. Titus, E. vi. f.274. Original.
Minute of the Council, 8th April, 32 Hen. VI. 1454. Vide Fcedera,
vol. xi. p. 347.]
In camera Consilii tempe plia** apud Westm octavo die
Apiilis anno 1c. xxxij®. religiosi viri Joties Goldewell 1
Walterus Hertford monachi ecclie Xpi Cantuarien pnta-
runt dnis de Consilio Iras Prioris et capiHi dee ecclie
Cantuar sub sigillo suo capitulari dno iiro Regi directas
sub eo qui seq^t' tenore verbo^. Magne celsi"*^* p'ncipi
inr terrenos p^ncipes strenuissime dna . . . dno suo benig-
nissimo dno Henrico Dei gra Regi Anglie t Francie 1
dno Hibnie illustri.; sui hmles Tt devoti oratores Tho's
p*or ecclie X* Cantuar 1 ejusd loci capitf^* parati Tt vigil es
revencia oimoda et honore cu devotaj^ oraconu sufiragiis
q*ntii valent j Cum ecclia nra Can? pdic? p morte reco-
lende memorie Dili JoKis Kempe nup Cant archiepi
quod no sine dolore et cordis merore scribere ja urgemur
sit pastoris solaco destituta^ Regie vre celsi*^ humilir
supplicamus univsalit singuli et singularir univsi qHinus
eligendi nobis 1 eccie iire {Pdce futurii pontifice lice-
cia dignef concedere^ vre regalis immensitas mages-
tatis ad qua quide licencia a vra regali sublimitate
graciosius et celerius impetrand dilectos ilros confres
1 comonachos Jotem Goldewell Tt Walterii Hertford
latores pnciu ad vram metuend pnciam destinamus de-
vote supplicantes quatinus eos dignef vra clemencia
regia realit 1 effectualir exaudire j in eo qui princeps est
% dris regum dilatetur et floreat [inclitu] regnum vrm.
Da? Can? in domo nra capitulari tercio die mensis Aprilis
anno Dni millo cccc°. quinquagesimo quarto. Quibus
quidem Iris apertis et Icis Rex p avisa*^* sui Consilii dco
octavo die Aprilis mandavit Custodi pVati sigilli q^ fieri
145*.] 32 HENRY VL I7I
faciat sub eode sigillo Iras CanceS Anglie dirigend man-
dando eidem quatinus fieri faciat sub magno sigillo Iras
patentes in debita forma de Kmoi licencia qua dci prior
et capitidm p suas jpfatas tras supplicando petunt 1c*
W. Eboj^ H. Bukingh^m
W. Wynton* Oxenford'
R. DuNELMEf Talbot
T. Elien' Devonshire
J. Wygorn' J. Pembroch
W. NoRwicEN* R. Salisbury
J. Herevordn' Worcestre
R. Coyentrem' 1 Lieu' Wylteshire
R. P*oR of SaintJoh'n
R. York J. Duddeley
R. Warrewyk Edward Bergevenny.
BOUROCHIER
Anno die mense 1 loco sup*scriptis actii^
fuit ut sup* J dnis se subscribentib3 I t. Kent.
ut patet. J
[Bibl. Cotton. Vespasian, F. xiii. f. 39. OriginaL ^^
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 12th April, 32 Hen.yi. 1454.]
Plaise hit to the Kyng oure souverain lord by thadvis
of his Conseil to graunte unto his humble liege man
Thomas Colt oon of the chambrelains of his chequer
his liveree of clothing and furre for the fest of Cristen-
masse last passed such, as any of the said chambrelains
of youre saide chequer had or aught to have had ayenst
the saide fest j to bee taken at youre greet warderobe by
the handes of the Keper of the same for the tyme being j
And ferthermore to graunte to the saide Thomas yerely
172 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [14.54.
as longe as he shal have and occupie thbffice of oon
of the saide chambrelains youre liveree of clooth furre
and lyneur aswel for soiSe as for winter j in like manie
and fourme as amplie and as good as any of youre saide
chambrelains hath had and taken for that cause at any
tyme heretofore ^ To bee had and taken yerely from tyme
to tyme at youre saide warderobe by the saide handes y
and that the Keper of youre privee seel for the tyme
being make such and as many tres undre the same seel
to the Keper of the saide warderobe for the tyme being
for thexecucion of the premisses as therefore shal bee
thoght necessarie behoveful and expedient.
Duodecimo die Aprilis a® 'Ic. xxxij*°. apud Westm in
caSa Consilii tempe Pliamenti Rex p avisa^^ sui
Consilii voluit et mandavit qd Gustos privati sigilli
facere faciat sub eodm sigillo tras in debita forma ^
dnis se subscribentib3 ut patet
T. Kent.
W. Eboj
J. Lincoln' R. Salisbury. Ric' abbas
W. NoRwicEN* Beaumont de Bello
R. York R. P of Seint Joh'n
R.. Warrewyk Wyllughby
Wylteshir' Bourgchier Scales.
Worcestre J. Duddeley
W. Faucomberge Grey
W. Fenys
''^^^' \J^' Minute of the Council, 15th April, S2 Hen.VI, 1454.]
The XV. day of Apritt the yere T:c. xxxij^. at Westm
in the Counsaitt Chambf tyme of Parlement the King by
thadvis of his Counsaitt consideryng that the vj. day of
k
U54.] 32 HENRY VI. I73
Fe9e the said yere it was ordenned and avised that
aswett writtf as prive seele shold be directed to the
coUectours of the xv™^ and x"'*'. half xv™*. and x"**.
graunted in the plement begonne at Redyng^ yit en-
during J charging theyme to paye noe somes nor tailles of
s5mes assigned for Irland sauf ooiily to the Tresourer of
England^ unto the lyme yt were discussed and detennyned
who is or aught to be lieutenant of the said land^
and that noo taille rered for the said Irland sholde be
allowed to the saide recevours y as it is conteigned in the
said acte j And for asmoche as it is nowe aggreed and
accorded undre certaine fourme betwix theym that
claymed the right of the said lieuten'ntsie so as it is
no lenger to be doubted whoo owetfii to be lieutenant
there j the King by the said advis wol and ordenned that
his Chaunceller of England directe writtf undre the
greet seal and the Keper of his pVe seett tres undre the
same seel to the said coUectours ^ also to the Tresorer and
Barons of )?e eschequier « • . notw^tanding the said furst
c5mandementf they paye and allowe the said tailles so
assigned for Irland in man! and fourme as the said tailles
aske and require and according to oure assignementf
made for the said Irland.
T. B. Eliek' Devon '
W. NoBWICEN' WyLTESHIR' J- DUDDKLEY
R. York Woecestrb Fenys
R. Warrewyk Bourgchier
R. Salisbury Scales
H; BuKiNGH^M R. Po' Sci Joh'is
/
1 Vide Rot Pari. vol. v. p. 228.
174 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [lis*.
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. v. f. 165. Original
Letter from the King to the Duke of York and several other peers,
dated 16th April, 32 Hen.VI. 14>54<, summoning them to attend the
Council at Westminster.]
Rtgh't trusty and riglit welbeloved cousin j It owett
to be take rigtt negli to herte to alle oure true subgittf
and lovers the nedeful and behoveful p'veaunce to be
had as wel for ]>e restful reule of this oure reaume inne-
ward as for the defense p?eof outeward and spially for
the saufgarde of oure towne of Calais and y marches
there j For somoch^ we have ordenned that o' CounsaiS
for the goode directon of the said matiers shaS in
goodely haste be assembled at oure paloys of Westm aft
this fest of Pasche j of the whicfi ye be oon j therfore we
write unto you at this tyme willing and charging you
straitely that alle excusacons ceessing ye be at oure
said paloys of Westm the vj*^. day of May next comyng
there to entende to the furthering and spedyng of the
said matiers and such other as shalbe comuned o£ at
youre commyng^ And we wol ye leve not this as ye
desire the weel of us oure lande and subgittf and the
saufgarde of o' said towne of Calais and marches of the
same j lating you wite we shal not thinke that ye tendre
oure said weel and worship as yo' duete is to doo yf ye
straunge you to come at )>at tyme as oure desire is ye
sholde. Yeven '\c. at Westm the xvj. day of Apritt the
yer 1c. xxxij.
T. B, Elien'
W. Norwicen' R, York
R. Salisbury J. Worcestre Wylteshir'
bourgchier
Wyllughby Clynton' R. Sci Joh*is
Scales J. Duddeley.
lm.J
32 HENRY VI.
175
{The Due of York
The Due of Norff
The Due of Bukf
To
i- The Archebysshop of
"^"l York
f The Bysshop of Win-
chest
The Bysshop of Ely
To < The Bysshop of Nor-
wich
The Bysshop of Chestr
The Bysshop of Lincoln
To
ITheErleofWarr
Therle of Oxon
Therle of Sa^
Therle of Worces?
Therle of Shrowesbury
{
To
The Viscont Beaumont
The Viscont Bourchier
ThePo' of Saint Johns
The Lord Cromwett
The Lord Sudeley
I The Lord Scales
The Lord Dudley
LThe Lord Stourton
{Sir Thom*s Stanley
knyght
John Say squier
[Bibl. Cotton. Cleopatra, F. vi. f. 304*, OrigindL
Copy of the Letters sent by order of the Council to various peers,
dated 17th April, 32 Hen.VI. 1454.]
Right trusty and right welbeloved cosin j We holde for
certaigne the feith trouth and love that ye owe and here
unto us to the vele also of this oure reame and subgittf
compelletli you to put you in your ful devoir in aidynge
and helpinge the jepart and distresse that oure towne of
Caleis standith in j the which is like to be in to grete
176 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454
adaungier w*oute the faveur and help of oure trewe sub-
gittf and lovers •/ for as we be crediblie enfourmed oure
adversaries w^ al the mygtit they can make dispose in al
haste to besige oure said towne 4 and to that entent have
ordeigned as grete an armee and ordinaunce to come
thidre aswel be lande as by water as is to theim and their
allies possible and suche as hath not be seen at any tymes 4
Notw*standynge we by the grace of God and assistence
of oure trewe subgettf purpose to w^stand their said
malice ^ and as toward such lordes of this our lande as
have be jpsent nowe late in oure parlement ^ thay have
as kindely tendirly and lovyngly shewed theim unto us as
evir didde subgettf to their prince 4 evicli of theim graunt-
inge a notable numbre of people at their charge for the
rescowes of the said siege and many of thaim to goo in
their psones j For somuch we write unto you exhortinge
desiringe and also prayenge you th^t ye caliinge to your
remembraunce what a jeweB the said towne of Caleis is
to this oure reame ^ w^ what labour peyii and outerageous
costes it was subdued to oure obeisaunce j what noissaunce
it schuld be [to] us and alle oure subgettf if it were lost
that God defende y wol accordinge to thastate that God
hath sette you in schewe your goode wille and zele that
ye here unto us in grauntinge money or peple for this
oure grete necessite in saufgarde of oure said towne of
Caleis to be redy at suche plase as we schall assigne wHn
XV. dales wamynge j And we wol ye certiffie us and oure
Counsaille in alle possible hast of that that ye wol doo for
us atte this tyme and so that we may thinke ye tender the
welfare of us and the saufgarde of oure saide towne of
Caleis. Yeven atte Westm the xvij. day of Apritt the
yeretc. xxxij.
1 Vide Rot. Pari. vol. v. pp. 234*236.
1454.]
S2 HENRY VI.
177
a Bathon \ Wellen
BoTtgoren
Wigorii
Rofien
Exon
Assaven
G De Burgo Sci Petri
Sci Jotiis Colcestr
Sci Edmundi de Bury
Sci Albani
De Berdeney
De Selby
Sci Benedici de Hulmo
Glaston
De Croyland
De Malmesbury
De Bello
De Salopia
De Cirencestria
De Thorney
De Evesh*m
De
De Wynchcombe
Sci Augustini Cantuar
De Redyng
Prior de Coventr
or Dux Norff
I>ux Exon
c Kichemond
Fembrocbie
Northumbrie
ArundeS
Westfit
^ Dns de Groby
Berkley
Ponyngf
Botreaulx
Dacre
Beauchamp
Audeley
Scrop de Masseh^m
Zouche
Scrop de Boltoii
Lovett
ClyfFord
Grey de Wylton
Wessy
Roos
Hoo
Gray Richetnond
Saintatnond
Egremond
WiUughby
Say
Bemers
Grey de Codnore
De la Ware
Straunge
Ferrers de Charteley.
man*** Regf p advisamentu Consilii sui j
pnl Driis Ebo^ Duce Thes CanceB
Epis Elien 1 Norwic Pore Sci Joliis
\ al.
T. Kent.
VOL, VI.
N
178 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454.
[Additional MS. 4611. art. 76. a modern IVanseript.
Letter to the Earl of Northumberland, 10th May, 32 Hen. VI. 1454.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved cousin j It is as it must
needes be in youre fresh remembrance the trouble that
hath of late tyme be in the cuntrey there as ye be by
occasion of certaigne differences betwix oure right trusty
and welbeloved cousin th* Erie of Sar now oure Chan-
celler of Englande^ and the Lord Egremond your son j the
which hath disobeied divers oure commandements sent
unto him as wel by writyng as oyerwise in full straunge
and evile example to many other j with the which de-
meanyng we be nothing welle content but right gretely
displesed as we have cause soo to be j and specially in
somuch as oure peax and subgitts were and bee gretly
troubled yerwith and was like grete inconvenience to have
ensued had not be the discrete mediacion of the moost
reverende fadre in God th' Archibisshop of York and
othre. For somuche we bering in oure minde the saide
straunge demenyng and offense to us and oure lawes
doon by the causers of the saide trouble j purposing also
to provide and ordeigne that from hensfurth no such
things shal be attempted y think youre presence here w^
us and our Counsail should be right expedient. Therfore
and for such causes as moeve us specially the whiche shalbe
shewed and opened unto you at your commyng^ we desire
woU and also charge you that ye be w^ us and cure said
Counsail at our palois of Westm the xij. day of this next
moneth to here that shalbe declared unto you at youre
commyng j And we wol ye leve not this in enjrwise.
Yeven Ttc. at Westm the x. day of May the yere 1c. xxxij.
To th' Erie of Northumberland.
* The great seal was delivered to the Earl of Salisbury on the 2nd of
April in tliis year, Vtde Fccdera, vol. xi. p. 344-
145*.] 32 HENRY VL I79
llbid. art. 77.
Letter from the King to Lord Roo8» dated 10th May, 32 Hen. VI.
1454.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved j For suche causes and
matiers as specially moeve us and oure Counsail and
suche as us thinke full expedient to be shewed and
opened unto you^ we wol and charge you that ye be
w^ us and oure said Counsail at oure palois of Westm
the xxvij. day of this present moneth j to here and
understande the saide matiers the which at that tyme
shall more at large be declared unto you ,; And we
woU that in noo wise ye leve this. Yeven as above.
To the Lord Rosse.
[Jbid. art. 78. Letter intended to be sent from the King to Lord
Poynings and Sir Ralph Percy, lOth May, 32 Hen.yL 1454. ; but
which was not forwarded.]
By the King.
tilitten Right trusty and welbeloved y For suche causes as
neman- juQgyg ^g and oure Counsail and suche as we must nedes
take hede of for oure worship according also to oure
duetee we have avised to have speche w* you j For so
muche we wol and charge you that alle excusations
ceassing ye be w^ us and oure saide Counsail at oure palois
at Westm the ij. day of the next moneth to here and
undrestande suche things as shalbe declared unto you at
your commyng j And we wil in noo wise ye leve this
oure commaundement. Yeven \c.
To the Lord Ponyngs
To Rauf Percy knight.
T, B. Ely R. York Bourgchier
J. Worcestre R. Sci Johis.
N 2
K.
180 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454..
llbid. art. 79.
Letters from the King to the Sherifis of Lancashire and Derby,
10th May, 32 Hen.VL 1454.]
By the King.
Trusty and welbeloved j For certaine causes us and
our Counsail moevyng we direct at this tyme our severall
letters of prive seel unto Nicholas Langford knight and
Waltier Blount squier to be and appere before us and our
said Counsail in all hast after the sight of our said letters^
the whiche we sende unto you hef'w*. We wol therefore
and in the straitest wise charge you that w*oute delay or
tariyng^ seen these our letters^ ye make delivrance unto
the said Nicholas and Waltier of oure said letters so as
is abovesaid to thaiin directed j And that ye faille not
herein in any wise. Yeven \c. at Westm the x*^. day of
May the yere \c. xxxij.
Item semble letters to y* Shirief "
of Lancastr to deliver prive seels
directed to Thomas Pylkyngton
and Piers Legli squiers.
To the Shirrief
of our countee
of Derby.
IJbid. art. 80.
Letter from the King to the Duke of Exeter, 11 May, 32 Hen.Vi.
1454.]
By the King.
Right tiusty and right welbeloved cousin j For certaine
considerations us and oure Counsail specially moeving j
we wol desire and also charge you that w*oute any faille
ye be w* us and our said Counsail at cure paleis of
Westm on Thursday next commyng j to th* entent that
our said Counsail may have communication w* you in
suche thinges as at your commyng shalbe opened unto
you J and that ye faille not in any wise as oure trust is
1454.] 32 HENRY VL
181
in you. Yeven tc. at Westm the xj. day May the yer
1c. xxxij.
To the Due of Excestr.
Mandabatur Custodi privati sigilli litteras fieri facere
secundum tenores suprascriptos.
T. Kent.
innd. art. 82.
Proceeding of the Council, 24'th May, S2 Hen.VI. 1454.]
Henri 1c. j to the Tresorer and Barons of oure esche-
quier gretyng j For as moche as by auctorite of oure last
Parlement begonne at Redyng and ended at Westm it
was ordeyned and stablysshed by auctorite of the same ^
that every lord sperituell and temporell the whiche came
not to the said Parlement fro the xiiij. day of Feverer last
passed unto ye last day of the same moneth sholde pale
unto us a certaine somme j provided that such as might
not for sekenesse or feblenesse come j shold not be com-
prised in the said acte but they shold paie such a fyne as
sholde be thought resonnable to the lords of oure CounsaiL
as it is more at large expressed in the saide acte j And in
somuche as it hath be surmysed before us and oure said
counsail that divers lords aswele sperituell as temporell
of this oure reaume were soo seeke or feeble that they
myght not or were not able to come to oure said Par-
lement w4nne the tyme specified in the said act ^ that is
to say E. bysshop of Excestr Thomas bisshop of Bathe
^ The Parliament alluded to met at Reading on the 6th March,
32 Hen, VI. 1453, and on the 11th February following adjourned until
the 14th of that month to Westminster. Vide Rot. Pari. vol. v. pp. 227,
238, 239. The proceeding mentioned in the text will be found in
p- 248 of that volume.
N 3
182 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [14.54.
and Welles J. bisshop of Roucheslx th* Erie of West-
merlande th' Abbot of Saint Albous th* Abbot of Berdeney
th' Abbot of Saint Benets of Hulme the Abbot of Glas-
tyngbury th' Abbot of Croyland Edward Gray lord of
Groby Robert Hungerford the elder knight John le
Scroop of Massam chivaler William Zouche of Harring-
worth chivaler William Lovell chivaler and Thomas Hoc
chivaler^ oure saide Counsail hath take juste and indifferent
examination of their saide sekenesse and feeblenesse and
by the said examination found that it was soo trouthe j
Therfore according to the saide acte the saide lordes of
oure Counsaill have assessed the said lordes and everich
of thaim atte fine in maner and fourme as foloweth j the
said Bisshop of Excestr iiij". marc^ the Bisshop of Bath and
Welles iiij". marc,/ the Bisshop of Rouchestx xx. marc^
th'Erle of Westmerlande 1. marc.^ th' Abbot of Saint Albons
X • K. y th' Abbot of Berdeney xx, li, ^ th' Abbot of Saint
Benets of Hulme xx. ti. j th* Abbot of Glastyngbury xL IL ^
th' Abbot of Croyland xxx.Ii. j Edward Gray lord of Groby
XX. li.y Robert Hungerford y'elder knight xx. ti.j John le
Scroop of Massam chivaler xl. marc y William Zouche de
Harryngworth chivaler xl. marc ^ William Lovell chivaler
xl. marc j and Thomas Hoo chivaler xx. li. j the which
assessyng of fynes soo made by the said lordes of oure
Counsaill we sende and notifie unto you to th' entent that
ye precede to the leveye therof and to all oyer things
that apperteigneth unto you in that behalf. Yeven
\c. at Westm the xxiiij. day of May ^ the yere Ttc. xxxij.
W. Ebo^ Nortf
W. Wynton R. Salisbury
T. B. Elieii Oxenford
W. Norwicen J. Worcestre
J. Lincoln R. S** Johis
Stourton
1454v] 32 HENRY VI. 183
Anno mense die et loco prasdicl Rex de avisamento
dominorum de Consilio suo suprascrip{ mandavit
Custodi privati sigilli sui fieri facere litteras sub
eodem sigillo secundum tenorem praenotaL
T. Kent
llbid. art. 83.
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 27th May, 32 HemVL 1454^]
To the right honorable and most discret Councell of
the Kyng oure soverayne lord.
Sheweth unto youre right honorable and wyse discre-
cyons John due of Norfolk that where atte shire for to
be holden at Yepeswych in the shire of Suff the Munday
next after the fest of Seynt Volantyne last passed ^ ther
come divers servauntz and tenantz of the seide Due to
the election of the knyghtes of the shire for the last
Parlement ther for to have yoven ther voyse to the
knyghtes of the shire after the lawe of this lande there \/
Thomas Sharnburn at that tyme shereve of the seide
shire ymagynyng and purposyng to make knyghtes of
the shire aftyr his owne intent and for his syngler
covetyse and to hurt the servants and tenants of the
seide Due j hath retoumed in the Comen Place a rescous
of many and divers servants and tenants of the seide
Due whose names be annexed to this bylle j surmyttyng
be hys retourn that his officers durst not holde the shire
afbreseide be cause of manas and thretes made to hys
officers as he retourned in the Comen Plase aforesaide j
where that the seide servants and tennants of the seide
Due made never no suych maner of fors rescous nor
1 February 18th.
N 4
184 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454.
manas as the seide sherreve hath retoumed ^ but that thei
pesibely kome to the shire hous for the election of the
knyghtes of the shire after the lawe of this lande^
Wherefore please it youre right wyse and noble discre-
sions to sende oure soverajme lordys letters to the
justicez of the Comen Place commandyng them to
admytte alle the servants and tennants of the seide
Due conteined in the seide bylle to apper by attoume
and to answer be attoume j consyderyng that full many
of the seide servants and tennants which ar innocent
persones be retoumed in the seide rescous ayens all
maner of reson and consciens j of the which diverse and
many were not there at that tyme as shall suffisauntly be
proved atte reverens of God and in the weye of charite.
W. Ebof R. Salisbury
W. Wynton J. Worcestre Bourgchier
T. B. Elien R. Sci Joliis Stourton
W. Norwyceii Dudeley
J. Lincoln
{In dorso.) In palacio Westm xxvij**. Maii anno 1c; xxxij**«>
Rex de avisamento sui Consilii ^ praesentibus dominis
inirascriptis j mondavit Custodi privati sigilli sui fieri
facere sub eodem sigillo litteras in forma prout infra
petitur 1c.
T. Kent.
llbid. art. 84.
Letter from the King to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, dated
29th May, and apparently in the 32nd Hen. VI. 1454.]
By the King.
Right trusty and right welbeloved cousin^ For as
moche as oure enemyes with alle the meens that thay
canne labour daily to doo alle the noissance thay can
1454.]
32 HENRY VL
185
ymagine to us and oiire people and for that eutent have
oowe late sette a greet armee upon the see j as we doubte
Dot to some greet purpoos j and byside that daily besy
thaime to puUe from us oure towne of Calais ^ We there-
fore and for other causes concernyng the defense of this
oure reaume outeward and the restefull and polliti% reule
therof inwarde have by th'advis of oure Counsaill ap-
pointed and concluded the calling of a Greet Counsaill
as wel of lordes as other to discretely provide for the
matiers abovesaid j For so muche we wol and charge you
that ye come and be w* us at oure palois of Westmynstre
where oure said Counsaill shalbe assembled the xxv. day
of the nexth moneth there to yeve youre good avis in the
said inatiers and suche other as shalbe opened unto you
at that tyme j and we wol in no wise ye leve this as ye
desire the welfare of us our landes and subgitts. Yeven
\z. at Westm ye xxix, day of May.
ArcRus Ebof
Meneven
Cestren
Wynton
London
Roffen
AssaveSi
Bathofi et Welleii
Lincoln
Dux Ebor protector Ttc.
Elien
Dux Norff
Dunolm
Dux Exon
Norwiceii
Dux Buck
Bangoreii
Karliol
Richemond "^
Chicestren
.Epi
Pembroch
Hereford
Warrewic
Sar
Northumbr
Wigorn
Landaven
•
Devon
Arundett
188
ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL,
[1454.
Sar
Oxon
Salop
Wigorn
Wiltshir
Beaumont
Bourgchier
Comites
}
Vicec
Prior Sci Joliis
Cromwell
Grey Ruthin
Grey Groby
Berkley
Grastoke
Ponyngs
Botreaux
Dacre
Beauchamp
Audeley
Zouch de Harringworth
Scroop de Bolton
Clynton
Lovell
Bergevenney
Clifford
Scales
^ Barones
Grey of Wilton ^
Stourton
Fitzwaren
Boneville
Vescy
Roos
Sudeley
Hoo
Grey de Rich-
mond
Saintamouud
Duddeley
Say
Willughby
Sir William Lucy 1
Thomas Tyrell I
Thomas Stanley ^ Knights
Thomas Haring-
ton
W. Ebor W. Wynton W. Norwicen
J. Lincoia Norff R. Salisbury
J. Worcestre Bourgchier R, Sci Johis
J454-] 32 HENRY VI. I87
Anno mense die et loco supradictis Rex per avisa-
mentum sui Consilii voluit et mandavit Custodi
privati sigilli sui quod fieri faceret litteras sub
eodem sigillo in forma praedicta^ dominis sub-
scribentibus ut patet.
T. Kent.
llbid. art. 86.
Proceeding of the Council, 29th May, 32 Hen.VI. 1454.]
Henry by the grace of God King of England and of
Fraunce and lord of Irland j to the Tresorer and Barons
of oure eschequier greting j For asmoche as by auctorite
of oure last Parlement bygonne at Redinge and ended
at Westm it was ordeyned and stablished by auctorite of
the same that every lord sperituel and temporel the
whiche came not to the said Parlement^ from the xiiij.
day of Feverer last passed unto the last day of the same
moneth shoulde pay unto us a certain somme j as it is
more at large expressed in the said acte j the whiche we
have sent unto you by a mittimus undre oure grete seel
w^ the names of suche as came not to oure said Parlement
w*in the tyme specified in the saide acte j whereupon ye
make processe out of oure said eschequer according to
oure commaundement j and amonges othre ayenst oure
right trusty and welbeloved the Lord Say for xl. li. j but
it is so as we have welle called to oure remembraunce
that the said Lord Say was not soo absent but within the
saide tyme was with us and with othre lordes of oure
Parlement present in the same,/ as it is also proved bifore
oure Counsaill y We woUe and charge you that ye sur-
ceesse of al maner of processe made or to be made
ayenst the said Lord Say by vertue of the said acte and
1 Vide Rot. Pari. vol. v. p. 248 ; and p. 181, antea.
\
188 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454.
of the said summe and every part therof discharge and
acquite the said Lord Say his heirs and executours ayenst
otire heirs and successours for evermore ^ the said acte or
any othre to the contrary made or to be made not with-
stand3nig. Yeven 'tc. at Westm the xxix. day of May the
yere Ttc. xxxij.
W. Ebo^
W. Wyntoa R. Salisbury
W, Norwiceii J. Worcestre
J. Lincoln Bourgchier
Decanus Sancti Severini R. Sci Johis.
Praedictis die anno mens et loco Rex per avisamentum
sui Consilii mandavit Custodi privati sigilli sui
quod fieri faceret litteras sub eodem sigillo in
forma prasdicta^ dominis se subscribentibus ut
patet.
T. Kent.
[Ibid. No. 4606. art. 49.
Proceeding of the Council, 31st May, 32 Hen.VI. 1454.]
In the Sterred Chambre at Westm the last day of May
the yere 1c. xxxij. it was ordeigned and avised by the
lords of oure souverain lord's Counsail^ that notwith-
standing that in tyme passed the Chaunceller of the
duchie of Lancastre of that part that is putte in fefiement
hadde in commaundement from oure said soverain lord
not to receyve any letter for his warrant of any thing to
be spedde by him under any seel saufe the signet of the
Egle oonly^ the prive seel shall from'hensforth be suffi-
cient warrant unto the said Chaunceller of the said part
of the said duchie unto the time oure said souverain
lord otherwise yeve him in commaundement j and that
1454.] S2 HENRY VI. 189
he receive nor obey any other lettre for his warrant but
the prive seel.
W. Ebor R. Salisbury
W. Winton J. Worcester
W. Norwicen H. Bourgchier
J. Lincolii R. Sancti Joiiis
C. privati sigilli J. Duddeley
Decanus Sancti Severini J. Say
Exemplificatum fuit xxx"^®. die Maii anno xxxij****.
T. Kent
[Ibid. No. 461 1. art. 87.
Letter from the King to the Duke of Exeter. To this article the
date of the 3rd June, 32 Hen. VI. HS^, is assigned ; and although the
authority for doing so does not appear, that date is presumed to be
correct.]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved cosin j We understande
to oure grete displesour the haynous ungodely and un-
godly disposition and gouvernaunce that ye be of y right
full unsittyng to youre estate and birthe youre selfe can
remembre youre demeanyng w*ine oure cite of Yorke not
long agoo J \vhat presumption ye toke upon you there as
it is said usurping other power than was yeven to you by
us^ what langage ye hadde there./ what cries ye have doo
made in sondry places j what people ye have assembled
ayenst oure lawes and pees^ in what wise ye rode w*
standards displeied full outrageously and indiscreetly./
what sedicious letters ye have writen as wel to oure right
trusty and welbeloved the Baron of Graystoke as the
communes of oure shires of Lancastre and Chest? ^ how
also ye have entreted oure welbeloved servant Gartier
that came to you w* oure letters the whiche it hadde be
190 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454.
your parte to have received w* reverence rather than to
have doo pulled thaim from the berer weyth in your con-
sideration wheyere this sitteth to your estate and birth
feith and ligeance that ye owe unto us or noo 4 not
w^standing sinth ye be disposed in such wise we most
provide to sette aparte youre wilfullnesse as we soo
will doo w^ Godds grace and in such wise as it shalbe
example to other y For somoche we wol and charge you
upon the faith and ligeance that ye owe unto us that
ye surceesse of youre said behavyng and attempte noo
thing that may sowne or be to the breche of oure pees
or lawes. And over that that ye come and be with us
and oure Counsail at oure palois of Westin the xxv, day
of this moneth^ there to answere to such things as shalbe
declared unto you at your commyng.
To the Due of Excestre.
\Ih%d. art. 88. Letter from the King to Lord Egremonty and appa«
rently also written on the 3rd June, 32 Hen. VI. 1454-3
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved y We mervaille greetly
that ye having neiyer consideration ne regarde to the
favour that we have shewed unto you 4 to the worship
that we have sette you inne j nor to the faithe that ye
owe unto us^ wol or dar presume to take upon as ye
doo and feere not to disobeye us oure auctorite and
lawes y demeanyng you ful strangely ayenst oure pees
makyng assembles of oure people and doyng many
other things longe to reherce right greetly to oure dis-
plesour^ Wherefore we wol and charge you upon the
I It appears by the article in p. 185, anteay that a Great Council was
to be held at Westminster on the 25th June.
1454.] 32 HENRY VI. 191
feith and ligeance that ye owe unto us that ye surceese
of youre said demeanyng and departe suche gaderings
as ye have made and in nowise from hensforth by youre
self or any of yours doo or suffire to be doo any thing
that may sowne or be ayenst oure pees and lawesy
and over that that ye come and be with us and oure
Counsaile at oure paloys of Westm the xxv. day of
this moneth there to answere to suche things as shalbe
declared unto you at your commyng.
To the Lord Egremond.
[Ibid. art. 89. Letter from the King to Richard Percy, apparently
dated on the 3rd June, 32 Hen. VI. 1454'.]
By the King.
Trusty and welbeloved j Sith it is soo that ye entende
to suche govemaunce and rule as ye be of the whiche
is right straunge and unsitting^ we must of reason gredey
be displesed w^ you as we have causes and so muche
the more that youre unrestfull and unlawful! demeanyng
is a full perilous ensample^ namely to other of light
disposition j For somoche we wol and charge you upon
the feith and ligeance that ye owe unto us that ye
setting aside youre wilfuUnesse surceesse of alle gaderings
and assemblees and alle other thing that may sowne or
be to the hurt of oure pees j and also that ye come
and be with us and oure Counsaill at oure paloys of
Westfil the xxv. day of this present moneth there to
answere to suche things as shalbe declared unto you
at your commyng.
To Richard Percy.
192 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454.
llbid. art. 91. Letter from the King to Sir Nicholas Longford^ knight,
and Thomas Pylkyngton, esq., 3rd June, 32 Hen. VI. 1454.]
By the KingI
Trusty and welbeloved j Where as now late we wrote
unto you oure oyere letters neverthelees we be en-
four med that ye straunged to receyve thaire
the berer therof straungely^ wherof we merville ./ for
soo moche and suche as it is said ye by you and suche
other gadered unto you have committed divers riotts
and do oyere things contrarie to oure pees j we wol
and charge you that ye come and appere before us and
oure Counsaill the xxv. of this present moneth there
to answere to the premises and suche oyere things as
shalbe declared unto you at youre commyng j charging
you also upon the payne of m^ li. that ye attempte
noo thing ayens oure pees in the meane tyme by you
nor noon of yours. Yeven at Westm the iij. day of Juyn.
To S' Nicholas Longford knight.
To Thomas Pylkyngton squier.
By the King.
Trusty and welbeloved./ Not w*standyng we wrote
unto you late to have come to us and oure Counsaill
y it ye did not soo for asmoche and sith as it is said ye \c.
ut supra usq^ ad finem.
To Walter Blount squier.
W. Norwicen
J. Lincolii R. Salisbury
J. Duddeley.
Anno mense die et loco praedic? Rex de avisamento
Consilii sui prassentibus dominis suprascriptis man-
davit Custodi privati sigilli sui fieri facere litteras
sub eodem sigillo secundum tenores superius de-
scripl 1c.
T Kent.
1454.] 32 HENRY VI. I93
It is to be remembred that letters were writen of the
tenoures abovesaid both with the stiles and withoute
stiles J and the v. day of Juyn in the Sterre Chambre «/
the said letters brought thider 4 my Lord Chanceller toke
to be sente forth the letters withoute stiles and ye oyer
letters were not delivered.
[Additional MS. 4610. art. 40. a modern Transcript.
Letter from the King to the Abbot of Hulme^ dated 5th June, and
apparently in the 32 Hen. VI. 1454.]
By the King.
Right dere in God^ For as moche as we be en-
fourmed that the Lord Egremond accompaigned of
other of like disposition as he is «/ not remembring the
state and worship that we have sette him inne^ the
feith trouth and obeissance that he oweth unto us^
neither the observance ne paine of oure lawes ordeigned
ayenst the brekers therof ^ hath now late made and dayly
maketh greet assembles of oure lige people in the contre
aboute you and other places there v and over that of his
owne presumpsion w* oute any autoritee or power from
us maketh divers and strange proclamations to stirre
oure trewe subgittes into rebellion and breking of oure
lawes and pees j by the wiche ful greet inconvenience
were like to ensewe j that God defeiide^ if it so sholde be
sufired j We therfore by thees oure letters wol and
straitely charge you that in nowise by you ne noon of
youre servants or tenants or other that in any wise
belong unto you ye yeve or do or suffre to be yeve or
do any favour assistence confort or help unto the said
Lord Egremond nor noon of his or of his opinion what
ever thai be w but straitely charge the saide youre servants
VOL. YI. o
194 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, £1454
and tenants to absteigne thaim therfro j doing alle the
diligence that belongeth unto you for the ceesing and
setting downe of the said assemblees and misgouvernancey
and that ye leve not this upon the feith and ligeance that
ye owe unto us. Yeven 'Ic at Westm the v. day of Juyn.
To the Abbot of Hulme.
IBnd. art. 4L]
By the King.
Right trusty and welbeloved j Forasmoche as we be
enformed that the Lord Egremond accompaigned of
other of like disposition as he is j not remembring the
state and worship that we have sette him inne^ the feith 1c.
ut supra usq^ ibi oure lige people tunc sic in oure countee
of Westmerland wherof ye by inheritance be sherrief
and in other places in coutre aboute you j and over that
Ic. ut supra usq^ ibi be suffred tunc sic j Wherfore we wol
and straitly charge you that ye putte you in suche devoir
and diligence that by you noon of yours nor noon of
oure subgitts of the saide contre as ferre as it shal mowe
lye in youre power any favour assistance confort or help
be yeven unto the said Lord Egremond nor noon of his
or of his opinion what soever thai be j but by alle wayes
possible to you do your labour and besinesse for the
ceesing and settinge downe of the said misgovemance
and assembles j and that unto oure right trusty and
right entierly welbeloved cousin the Due of York pro-
tectour and defensour of this oure reaume whom by
th'avis of our Counsail we have ordeigned to adresse
him thider as it shal bethought expedient for w^tanding
and breking of the said assemblees j and ye w^ alle the
power that ye canne make yeve herein and in al other
thinges that shalbe thought to him wol serve to the
same j assistence help and aide j as we doubte not ye wol
I4M.] 32 HENRY VI. I95
according to the feith and ligeance that ye owe unto
us when ye shalbe hi him required j and this as oure
singuler trust is on you and as ye tendre the welfare of
us and of alle this oure lande. Yeven 1c. ut supra.
To the Lord ClyfTord.
[JU0L No. 4611. art. 112. a modern TrantcripL
Letter from the King to Walter Duredant of Buckioghamshirey dated
5th June, 32 Hen. VI. 1454k]
By the King.
W£LB£L0V£O^ For certaine grete causes and consi-
derations suche as moeve us and oure Counsail specially 4
we wol by th'avis of the same oure Counsail and straitly
charge you that alle other thinges lefle and excusations
ceesing ye be before us and oure said Counsail atte
oure paloys of Westm the morwe next after the feste of
Saint John Baptiste next commyng* to answere unto
suche matiers as shalbe shewed unto you at youre
comyngy and that ye faille not upon paine of ccti.
Yeven Ttc. at Westm the v. day of Juyn.
To oure welbeloved Waltier Duredent of
the countee of Bukingham.
De mandato Regis per avisamentum Consilii.
Langport.
[Bibl. Cotton. Vespasian, C xiv. f.520* conXemporary MS.
Letter from the King to the Major and Aldermen and inhabitants of
York and tiull, 32 Hen.VL 1454.]
By the Kyng.
Right trusty and welbeloved y We grete you hertely
iveB J latyng you wite we have right wett understande
1 25th June.
O 2
196 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454*
by certaine writinges of our Tight trusty and rigtit en-
tierly welbeloved cousin the Due of York protectoure
and defensoure of this oure reaume j the straunge and
unsittyng demeanyng of the Due of Excestre the Lord
Egremond and Richard Percy amonge you nowe late
w4ii our citee of York^ the whicR we take to our ful
grete displesire as we muste nedes. doo j and somoche
the more that thay p^sumptuously toke upon theyme
oure auctoritee and powaire to coloure therwitt ferre
sougM ymaginacons •/ for it was nevir oure entente or
wille that thay or any of thaime sholde on oure behalf
say or utt unto you suche thingf as they dide j Notwith-
standyng thaire said ungodely behavyng hatR putte into
experience and proff your faithe and trouthe towardes us j
the tendernesse good zele and love that ye here unto
the welfar of us and oure peple and to the restefuff
reule of this oure lander witft this also youre wyse
discrete sadde and manly beryng oute of your saide
trouthe at this tyme in withstandyng and puttyng aside
the wylfulnesse of the said Due and other shalbe to
you a perpetueff laude and commendacon a noble
meroure and a gentill example to alt oure trewe sub-
gittf J and for oure part we wol ye understande we be
asweS contente and plesed w^ your said sadnesse and
manhode as we can be and rigtt joyful! that we fynde
you soo feithfutt subgittf unto us j thankyng you with
alt our herte of yo"^ said behavyng as we have cause to
doo ^ and also to shewe you favour in suche thingf as ye
shal herafter sue unto us forev willing and desiring you that
ye contynue yo' said godewilles and feithe at alt tymes
hereafr towardes usv as we doubte not ye wolt^ Over
this we can you right gode thanke that ye w* att rev-
ence and worship full connyngly and joyfully recey ved
at his comyng our said cousin the Due of York protectouf
1454.1 32 HENRY VI. IffJ
and defensoure of this our lande j wherin ve have doo
unto us light grete pleasaunce and f iil agreable €vice for
the whic& also we shal have you in espial remembraunce..
Yeven 1c.
To o"" rigBit trusty and welbeloved the Mayre
aldremen [shirrefff ] and thinBiitantf of o*^
cite of York.
Km semble mutatf mutandf to the Maire al-
dremeii and inliitantf of o' towne of Hull.
[Additional MS. 4611. art. 75. a modern Tratucripi*
Petition to the King, with the Answer, 5th July, 32 Hen. VI. 1454^}
To the Kyng oure souverain lord and to his full
noble and solene Conseil.
Shewith and declareth to youre hieghnesse Piers de
Merlanes and his feliship youre trewe legemen of Gas-
coign he how by cause of the perdiction of your citee
of Burdeux and of youre countree aboute j whiche of
olde tyme has been ever youre trewe enheritaunce and
obeissance to youre corone j thay ben comen into this
realme as well to proffre thair service to youre said
hieghnesse as to mekely by seke youre full graciouse
consideration to be had of the service thay did to your
said hiegnesse or th'Erle of Shrosbury and his feliship
entred into youre said citee .^ and for the understanding
and menes yat thay knowe howe your saide citee might
be sonest reduced to youre said obeissance they ben all
redy at what tyme youre ordinance and provision shall
procede to the wynnyng agayn therof to do thair devoir y
youre said graciouse consideration had of thair service
yat is passed and yat is to come and how thair enprinse
by the grace of God shal be profitable and expedient
o 3
198 ACTS OF PRIVY COUNCIL, [1454.
to youre conquest in presence of suche persones as
understand the maner therof when it shal like youre
bieghnesse thay ben redy to declare*
Habita consideratione ad servitia et voluntatem supe-
rius ostensa domini de Consilio volunt quod dcus
Petrus habeat per viam regardi hac vice ?m x. K*
W. Ebor
W. Wynton R. Salisfeury
J. Lincoln R. Sa JoWs
W. Norwicen J. Duddeley
Decanus Sancti Severini John Say.
Emanarunt litterae de x. ti. hoc quinto die Julii anno
\c. xxxij^^
(In dorso.) Did die et loco prsdicZ Rex de avisamento
Consilii sui mandavit Custodi privati sigilli sai litteras
conficere sub eodem sigillo de x. }i. ut supra.
T. Kent
llbid. art. 92. Petition to the King, with the Answer, 10th July,
32 Hen. VI. 1454.]
To the King our soverain lord.
Mekely besechith your highnesse Rauf Cromwell
lord Cromwell that where oon Robert Colynson preest
of his grete untrouth cursed malice and evill disposition
without cause or matier of cause late made grevous com-
pleintz of your said besecher to